Equatorial Launch Australia (ELA), owner and operator of Australia’s leading spaceport, the Arnhem Space Centre (ASC), today announced Nina Patz as its new Head of Business Development. Nina’s appointment adds to the company’s senior commercial team as it approaches its next scheduled launches commencing in mid-2025 with South Korean rocket company, Innospace.

The role will be pivotal in developing customized launch contracts including launch, engine testing, payload and mission management, mission planning, and launch support services for international NewSpace commercial rocket companies looking to launch from the ASC. Patz will proactively identify and lead the conversion of commercial opportunities globally.

ELA Group CEO, Michael Jones, welcomed Nina to the team saying, “As ELA continues its schedule of discussions with international rocket companies, we are delighted to announce the appointment of Nina to help drive that process and to ensure we fill out our launch schedule through to the end of the decade.”

The ASC’s geographical and remote location provides an extremely attractive option for global launch vehicle companies requiring access to space. The site provides launch companies with a full-service spaceport solution and the ability to reach all orbits. The site features cutting-edge testing and launch facilities, access to fuel and gasses, TSA and ITAR compliant facilities including launch and mission control, onsite accommodation, and proximity to the nearby mining town of Nhulunbuy which offers the facilities and amenities of a large regional town.

The growing groundswell of international interest in the Australian Space sector as well as the recent advances, including the ratification of the Technology Safeguards Agreement with the United States, are collectively channelling rocket companies towards Australia who are looking at launching from the ASC.

“Nina’s role will be to work closely with our growing customer base to close out contracts we’ve been negotiating for some time and then help us deliver launch and spaceport services tailored to our customers’ mission requirements and provide them with the benefits of launching from a state-of-the-art, full-service spaceport.” said Jones.

“We have worked with Nina in her previous role and always admired her style, industry knowledge and professionalism, we are very lucky to have her join us,” said Jones.

Winner of ‘Launch Business of the Year’ in the 2024 Australian Space Awards and finalist in five Australian Space Awards categories, as well as finalist in the InnovationAus 2024 Excellence Awards (Defence, Dual-Use and Space), ELA is on track to be the pre-eminent multi-user commercial space launch company providing testing, launch, and recovery of space vehicles and payloads flown to and from all space orbits. The ASC is located in East Arnhem Land, Northern Territory, Australia, and is situated at 12 degrees south of the equator, providing rocket companies and their payload customers operational freedom and simplicity for their launch and mission design. The spaceport is being redeveloped into a multi-user commercial spaceport as well as having the potential to be used as a key infrastructure project for Australia’s sovereign space defence capability.

With a strong background in Business Development, Nina most recently worked with Australian aerospace company, Hypersonix Launch Systems. She was integral to the team that secured a US Department of Defense government contract through the Defense Innovation Unit in March 2023 against 62 global applicants.

“With ELA’s proven track record and exciting future ahead, I am thrilled to join the team as it enters its next phase,” Nina said. “I am grateful to be given this opportunity to work with a fantastic organisation such as ELA. I look forward to building ELA’s customer base as we build the spaceport of the future in northern Australia.”