The plan – similar to that pioneered by Virgin Orbit – has already begun testing at the US space agency’s Wallops Flight Facility in Virginia using a modified C-130J Super Hercules.
The company is best known for its plans to develop a new spaceport in far north Queensland that it hopes could one day host large launches from companies such as SpaceX.
As part of the agreement, Space Centre Australia (SCA) will conduct inert (non-propellant) flight testing and take advantage of Wallops’ airfield operations, support, and NASA safety analysis services.
The firm is testing the plan under a licence from UK firm Orbit Boy, which hopes to be able to launch small satellites at short notice from traditional runways.
“This agreement is a major validation of our air-launch concept using the C-130J and enables us to test, refine and prove our systems in a world-class environment,” said James Palmer, SCA’s chief executive.
“More importantly, it reinforces our commitment to building enduring partnerships that strengthen both regional and global space ecosystems.”
The proposed horizontal launch plan – named Project Karman Line after the starting point of space – would see a rocket sit on a special cradle inside a cargo aircraft.
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At 20,000 feet, a back door would open, and a parachute would pull a payload, up to 250 kilograms, out of the aircraft. After the rocket falls, it will self-ignite and start a trajectory to low-Earth orbit (LEO).
The plan significantly differs from Virgin Orbit’s, which carried a larger 500-kilogram payload under the wing of a repurposed Boeing 747 and dropped it directly down without a parachute.
Orbit ceased all operations in 2023 following the failure of its landmark launch in Cornwall, south-west England, earlier that year.
Space Centre Australia also believes its testing program sets the stage for a future expansion in the United States.
Former prime minister Scott Morrison, now the business’ chairman, called the agreement a key milestone.
“Our work at Wallops Island will not only showcase our growing technical capabilities but will also accelerate progress toward establishing Australia’s premier heavy-lift launch facility in Cape York,” he said.
Palmer, meanwhile, told The Australian that customers are already lined up from both Australia and the US.
“One particular customer has satellites that work in the communications and conservation area,” he said. “Those particular satellites also do remote bushfire monitoring. That’s a really important customer to us.
“There are other customers that work in the surveillance area as well that want to look at constellation deployments – launching lots of satellites into low-Earth orbit for surveillance and reconnaissance.”
NASA’s legendary Wallops facility is used for technology development and testing.
Founded in 1945, the site conducts upwards of 50 operational science and technology missions worldwide annually, launching on orbital and suborbital rockets as well as scientific balloons.
Space Centre’s Australia’s James Palmer and Scott Morrison will be among the headliners at our Australian Space Summit in May, alongside Roosevelt “Ted” Mercer Jr, the CEO of the Virginia Spaceport Authority.
Adam Thorn
Adam is a journalist who has worked for more than 40 prestigious media brands in the UK and Australia. Since 2005, his varied career has included stints as a reporter, copy editor, feature writer and editor for publications as diverse as Fleet Street newspaper The Sunday Times, fashion bible Jones, media and marketing website Mumbrella as well as lifestyle magazines such as GQ, Woman’s Weekly, Men’s Health and Loaded. He joined Momentum Media in early 2020 and currently writes for Australian Aviation and World of Aviation.
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