L-R: Mark Ramsey, Chief Growth Officer at Southern Launch; Kazunari Miyamaru, Chief Operating Officer at ElevationSpace after signing the agreement in Tokyo
Japanese space technology company ElevationSpace will return its spacecraft to the Koonibba Test Range in South Australia following the signing of an agreement with Southern Launch in Tokyo.
ElevationSpace is developing space transportation services that will allow advanced materials and other valuable payloads to be returned from orbit to Earth. Its long-term vision is to establish an in-orbit transportation network connecting cargo, crew and orbital operations.
The agreement further cements Southern Launch’s position at the forefront of the global orbital re-entry market. International customers are increasingly turning to Southern Launch for the expertise, infrastructure and capability required to safely return space technology to Earth.
Southern Launch CEO Lloyd Damp says, “Launching technology into orbit is only part of the opportunity space provides. Companies like ElevationSpace are creating the pathway to bring research, materials and discoveries from space back to Earth. This helps turn what happens in orbit into products and technologies that can benefit all of us.”
ElevationSpace is building on Japan’s advanced re-entry technology and working with Tohoku University and JAXA to develop a new generation of spacecraft capable of returning valuable payloads from space. Its first mission to the Koonibba Test Range will see the AOBA-2 capsule re-enter Earth’s atmosphere at more than Mach 25 before descending under parachute into the Australian outback.
Under the agreement, Southern Launch will lead delivery of the AOBA-2 return mission, bringing together its regulatory expertise, specialist range infrastructure and experienced mission team. Southern Launch will manage Australian approvals and return authorisations, tracking and communications, weather monitoring, range operations and capsule recovery.
Ryohei Kobayashi says,”We are delighted to announce a partnership with Southern Launch, a pioneer in Australian space infrastructure operating vast landing and recovery test facilities. Through this collaboration, in addition to maritime recovery in Japan for our first satellite "AOBA-1," securing an overland recovery site in Australia allows us to offer customers multiple recovery options. By leveraging Southern Launch’s state-of-the-art facilities and regulatory expertise, we aim to provide global users with safe, high-frequency, and flexible re-entry services.”
Lloyd Damp says ElevationSpace’s vision for the future of space transportation aligns closely with the capability Southern Launch is building in Australia.
“ElevationSpace has a compelling vision for a transportation network that connects activity in orbit with customers and industries on the ground. We are proud to support them as they develop that capability and look forward to welcoming the AOBA-2 back to Earth at the Koonibba Test Range.”
This is the first Japanese re-entry customer to sign with Southern Launch. Anthony Weymouth, Head of Technology, Defence, Advanced Manufacturing and Space, Australian Trade and Investment Commission (Austrade) says, “It is fantastic to see the growing commercial relationship between Australia’s space sector and our partners in Japan. We are excited to see Australian and Japanese organisations working together to drive innovation and growth across the space ecosystem.”
Southern Launch developed the Koonibba Test Range in partnership with the Koonibba Community Aboriginal Corporation to support suborbital launches and spacecraft returning from orbit. Since hosting its first commercial space launch in 2020, the range has supported a growing number of international missions. Today, Southern Launch is supporting a growing pipeline of commercial spacecraft returns to the Koonibba Test Range, establishing the range as the leading global destination for re-entry missions.