Southern Launch

We are an innovative space company providing the infrastructure and logistics support for orbital and sub-orbital launches from our two sites in South Australia

[Southern Launch @SouthernLaunch]

WHAT A DAY! We're headed back to the Moon!

And most excitingly, Southern Launch is playing a role in supporting the Artemis II mission through our partners at Raven Defense.

We're helping NASA to assess the broader aerospace community’s tracking capabilities.

[Southern Launch @SouthernLaunch]

This week at Southern Launch:

Thursday: Launch A01 for AtSpace
Saturday: @VardaSpace launched their W-5 mission
Very soon: Return of W-4 to the Koonibba Test Range
Soon: The return of W-5 to the Koonibba Test Range

High-cadence operations for our customers: business as usual.

[Southern Launch @SouthernLaunch]

Australian-made rocket lifts off from the Koonibba Test Range!

On November 27 at 9:22am AtSpace’s A01 rocket made history from our Koonibba Test Range, soaring 80km into the sky and validating their cutting-edge hybrid propulsion.

[Southern Launch @SouthernLaunch]

It's true! 20 more @VardaSpace capsules incoming to the Koonibba Test Range!

[South Australian Space Industry Centre @SASIC_Aus]

🎉 Huge news from #IAC2025! @SouthernLaunch has signed a commercial agreement with US-based @VardaSpace in Sydney, paving the way for 20 spacecraft returns to South Australia's Koonibba Test Range by 2028.

Read more ➡ https://t.co/MPfzbewr3V

#SpaceToBe

[Southern Launch @SouthernLaunch]

We are at #IAC2025 and we are giving you all the feels!

Be sure to stop by the @SASIC_Aus stand to try out our immersive experience.

You'll feel what it is like during a rocket launch and re-entry and you'll get the feels hearing the story!

Come try it for yourself!

[U.S. Embassy Australia @USEmbAustralia]

On his recent trip to Australia, @StateDept AUKUS Senior Advisor Matthew Steinhelfer met with government leaders, think tanks, students, and other stakeholders. Mr Steinhelfer is a regular visitor here and we appreciate the warm welcome from our ACT, SA and WA partners.

[Southern Launch @SouthernLaunch]

It was great to welcome you to our HQ!

[Omar Pimentel @OmarJPimentel]

Good times in Adelaide with @SouthernLaunch

[Southern Launch @SouthernLaunch]

The W-3 mission demonstrated Southern Launch's capability to support high cadence orbital re-entries.

Working together with @Varda and @RocketLab we were able to welcome W-3 capsule back to Earth just 10 weeks after the W-2 mission - watch to see how.

https://t.co/3j4RddnaUf

[Southern Launch @SouthernLaunch]

Southern Launch proudly won two awards at the 2025 Australian Space Awards!

Southern Launch won Launch Provider of the Year. Together with the Koonibba Community Aboriginal Corporation, we were also awarded the Indigenous Space Initiative of the Year for the SR75-1 launch.

[Southern Launch @SouthernLaunch]

Happy to help @VardaSpace!

[Varda Space Industries @VardaSpace]

And then there were 3. Thank you to @RocketLab, @SouthernLaunch, @SpaceX, and of course @AFResearchLab and @NASA.

[Southern Launch @SouthernLaunch]

How good does South Australia look from space!

The @VardaSpace W-3 capsule caught some beautiful images as it landed at the Koonibba Test Range.

Watch the full re-entry on Youtube: https://t.co/eJf1JOIDrm

(Bonus points to anyone who can identify any SA landmarks)

[Southern Launch @SouthernLaunch]

@DanielKFrendo @VardaSpace @RocketLab Nope, that's just the colour of the wood out in the outback. Capsule cooled down during it's gentle descent under parachute 😎

[Southern Launch @SouthernLaunch]

Two orbital re-entries in 10 weeks? We got this.

At 11:47am on May 14 2025 Southern Launch welcomed the @VardaSpace W-3 capsule to the Koonibba Test Range.

W-3 spent 61 days in orbit supported by the @RocketLab Pioneer spacecraft.

[Southern Launch @SouthernLaunch]

Welcome home W-3!

[Rocket Lab @RocketLab]

Around the world in 60 days.

✅ 900+ orbits
✅24.5 million miles traveled
✅Our third successful Earth re-entry mission

Rocket Lab’s Pioneer spacecraft has released @VardaSpace’s capsule safely back to Earth landing at the Koonibba Test Range in South Australia, operated by @southernlaunch.

Another Earth re-entry. Another mission complete. 🚀🌍
Learn more: https://t.co/ip4FMcFPcV

[Southern Launch @SouthernLaunch]

W-3 is touching down at the Koonibba Test Range in the coming days. For detailed mission information see our website: https://t.co/ab3qL03f4j

[Varda Space Industries @VardaSpace]

Inbound! Over the next few days, we will work with our partners @RocketLab and @SouthernLaunch to reenter and recover the W-3 capsule. W-3 is Varda’s third mission, and the second this year.

[Southern Launch @SouthernLaunch]

We can't wait to welcome W-3 back to Earth at the Koonibba Test Range!

[Rocket Lab @RocketLab]

Pioneer’s second engine burn complete ✅

Next up: Burn 3 and release of @vardaspace’s capsule over @southernlaunch's Koonibba Test Range in South Australia.

[Southern Launch @SouthernLaunch]

Our Year 10 work experience program is back for 2025!

We're inviting students who want to learn about the space industry to join us for work experience from Monday June 16 to Thursday June 19.

Learn more on our website - https://t.co/Gp7KmMPRyA

[Southern Launch @SouthernLaunch]

Southern Launch has closed a significant funding round which will help us build out our infrastructure and capabilities to serve the global space industry. Read more on our website - https://t.co/dVP6isl2vy

[Southern Launch @SouthernLaunch]

We can't wait to see W-3 back on Earth at the Koonibba Test Range!

[Varda Space Industries @VardaSpace]

We successfully acquired signal from W-3. Our system health checks are now complete and we can confirm that the capsule is operating nominally.

We'll see you again down under soon, @SouthernLaunch @AusSpaceAgency!

[Southern Launch @SouthernLaunch]

It's been a big day for the Southern Launch and @VardaSpace teams. Welcome Down Under W-2!

[Varda Space Industries @VardaSpace]

We can confirm that at 6:32 AM PT the W-2 capsule landed safely at the Koonibba Test Range, operated by @SouthernLaunch, becoming the first-ever commercial spacecraft to reenter on Australian soil.