SL-GDE_KNC_1

.0 Launch Operations and

SouthernLaunch.Space Pty Ltd manages the following Australian launch sites: • Koonibba Test Range in the District Council of Ceduna, • Whalers Way Orbital Launch Complex in the Lower Eyre Peninsula Council, South Australia. The Koonibba Test Range (KTR), developed by Southern Launch with strong support and involvement from the Koonibba Community Aboriginal Corporation, is Australia’s only rocket launch facility licensed by the Australian Space Agency. The Range, a thirty-minute drive north-west of Ceduna, is the southern hemisphere’s largest overland suborbital rocket testing facility. The Range extends out 145 kilometres and covers over 10,000km2 making it the perfect location to launch and recover rocket and satellite technologies in the uninhabited national parks to the north. The Range provides a critical steppingstone for companies to validate their technology’s performance before launching their rockets and satellites into orbit from Southern Launch’s proposed Whalers Way Orbital Launch Complex.

What does a launch site mean to the Koonibba people?

In developing the Koonibba Test Range, Southern Launch worked closely with the community members living in the remote aboriginal community town of Koonibba, northwest of Ceduna in South Australia.

While building local support of the Koonibba Test Range, the Southern Launch team were actively involved within the community, vising numerous times for public outreach and involving the Koonibba Aboriginal School in many activities leading up to the first launch. As part of the outreach, Southern Launch ran community engagement days, which included hosting a BBQ for the Koonibba community and launching hobby rockets from the school oval.

By August 2020, Southern Launch’s maiden launch from the Koonibba Test Range was approved by the Civil Aviation Safety Authority, and the launch window in September selected. The excitement surrounding the impending rocket launch reached both the adults and children of Koonibba, who actively participated in organisation leading up to the launch. Prior to the launch date, Southern Launch organised a Road Traffic Management course for Koonibba community members and subsequently hired 19 individuals to staff roadblocks during launch week. Senior community members were employed as cultural monitors during recovery. Furthermore, for launch day, Southern Launch employed community members to assist the necessary duties relating to range security and launch vehicle recovery. The Koonibba school children proudly decorated the town with rocket-themed motives, built 3D rocket models, and announced their interest in studying STEM subjects.

“Our community has already seen the benefits of our relationship with Southern Launch. Our kids cannot stop talking about studying STEM courses at university and one day returning to Koonibba to be part of Australia’s space future. Our entire Aboriginal community is very proud to be directly involved in the development of the Koonibba Test Range and we look forward to a long and mutually beneficial relationship with Southern Launch.”– Corey McLennan, Chief Executive Officer of Koonibba Community Aboriginal Corporation

Level 8, 70 Pirie Street ADELAIDE SA 5000 | [email protected] | Phone: +61 883 592 439 SL-GDE_KNC_0.1

Artwork by the Koonibba school children, September 2020

DEWC Systems’s DART rocket, painted by artist Cassandra Gray and signed by the Koonibba school children, September 2020

The knock-on effect of the launches had further positive implications of the community,

• The Koonibba General Store saw an increase in traffic due to the launch teams from Southern Launch and DEWC, as well as the public and officials who travelled to Koonibba to observe the launch. Total sales for the General Store were up 120% month-on-month for September 2020. • New employment opportunities for the community due to learning new skills from the Road Traffic Management course. • Increased media awareness of the community, including state and national news from Solstice Media and ABC, which gave senior community members the opportunity to express their views and build the profile of the greater community.

TED-02 Launch, Koonibba Test Range, September 2020

Level 8, 70 Pirie Street ADELAIDE SA 5000 | [email protected] | Phone: +61 883 592 439 SL-GDE_KNC_0.1

The Koonibba community has taken great pride in what they have achieved and are fully committed to grow their partnership with Southern Launch.

"I think it's opened a bigger world to them and that's what we want for our children." – Beth Hector, former Koonibba Aboriginal School Principal

A bright future

Moving forward, Southern Launch is looking to develop a permanent launch facility at Koonibba and employing local community members to maintain, manage and operate the facility. To create ongoing awareness of Australia’s First Nation people’s relationship with space, Southern Launch and the Koonibba Community Aboriginal Coporation are looking to together develop an Astronomical Centre and Observatory on the Koonibba lands to increase tourism outside of launches. The Centre will help ensure Koonibba’s rich history with the stars is captured and preserved and provide an additional tourism industry and associated economic self-sufficiency for the small community.

Further resources, https://www.indigenous.gov.au/news-and-media/stories/launching-space-koonibba https://www.abc.net.au/news/2020-09-15/excitement-grows-for-first-rocket-launch-on- aboriginal-land/12663108

Level 8, 70 Pirie Street ADELAIDE SA 5000 | [email protected] | Phone: +61 883 592 439 SL-GDE_ORB_1.1

Polar Orbit from Whalers Way

SouthernLaunch.Space Pty Ltd is developing the following launch sites: • Koonibba Test Range in the District Council of Ceduna, South Australia • Whalers Way Orbital Launch Complex in the Lower Eyre Peninsula Council, South Australia. From the Whalers Way Orbital Launch Complex, a 40-minute drive south from Port Lincoln, rockets will fly southwards out over the Great Australian Bight without crossing any land, delicate marine environments or heavily trafficked air or maritime corridors. The Whalers Way Orbital Launch Complex is ideal for sending satellites into polar orbits.

What is polar orbit and why the interest in now developing a launch complex? An orbit is the path used by a satellite as it rotates the Earth.

Polar orbit means a satellite is rotating the Earth vertically (over the poles), distinct from equatorial orbits where satellites rotate

around the Earth horizontally (around the equator).

Due to orbital mechanics, equatorial orbits are best reached from launch sites near the equator, and polar orbits from closer to the poles. Considerations on weather, logistics support and accessible land masses makes 35 degrees latitude optimal for siting a polar launch site, launching due south or north. The proposed Whalers Way Orbital Launch Complex is to be sited at 34.9 degrees south. Modern technology advances and miniaturisation of sensors are only now allowing for the development of useful small satellites weighing approximately 200kg compared to older satellites weighing many tonnes. Polar orbits are therefore finding emerging commercial uses where constellations of small satellites in Low Earth Orbit (approx. 400km) can provide cost effective, continuous global coverage across all areas of the economy.

Why polar orbit? There are many uses of satellites. The appropriate orbit for a satellite is determined by how the satellite is being used or, in other words, what service the satellite is providing. Polar orbiting small satellites are becoming critical for many modern applications including: • environmental monitoring and emergency management such as Integrated Marine Observing System, CSIRO’s upcoming CSIROSat-1, Spiral Blue, as well as international companies such as Spire and Planet

• defence services for the ADF and the Commonwealth’s allied partners such as the Department of Defence’s surveillance and reconnaissance projects

• advanced telecommunications and connectivity supporting Australian companies Myriota and Fleet providing critical connectivity to remote communities and agriculture, logistics and mining industries.

• weather monitoring such as the Bureau of Meteorology’s Advanced Very High Resolution Radiometer currently onboard a satellite operated by the Unites States of America.

Level 8, 70 Pirie Street ADELAIDE SA 5000 | [email protected] | Phone: +61 883 592 439