Under the contract, INNOSPACE will conduct missions from Southern Launch’s Whalers Way Orbital Launch Complex on the Eyre Peninsula and the Koonibba Test Range, with activities expected to continue for at least the next decade.
The partnership allows INNOSPACE to use the South Australian sites for a broad range of missions, including orbital satellite launches and suborbital technology demonstrations, reinforcing South Australia’s growing role in the global space industry.
Southern Launch CEO Lloyd Damp said the agreement marked a significant milestone for the company and for Australia’s sovereign space launch capability.
“We are excited to welcome INNOSPACE to our launch sites,” Damp said. “INNOSPACE is at the forefront of launch vehicle development, and we are proud to support their technology and mission objectives from both Whalers Way and Koonibba.
“This partnership reflects our shared commitment to expanding access to space and delivering flexible, reliable launch solutions for customers around the world.”
INNOSPACE has quickly established itself as a notable player in the international launch market. In 2023, it became the first private South Korean company to successfully launch a test vehicle, the HANBIT-TLV. Since then, the company has continued to mature its launch technology, including qualifying engines for future orbital missions, while engaging with customers on a growing pipeline of launch opportunities.
INNOSPACE founder and CEO Soojong Kim said the agreement would significantly enhance the company’s global launch capabilities.
“Our partnership with Southern Launch is an important step in strengthening INNOSPACE’s international launch service offering,” Kim said. “By expanding our launch site network, we can respond more flexibly to a wide range of mission requirements – from satellite launches and technology demonstrations to space-manufactured product return missions.
“It also allows us to improve our commercial competitiveness through tailored rapid-launch services and multi-launch operational frameworks.”
Southern Launch said the agreement highlighted its ability to provide infrastructure capable of supporting high-tempo launch operations, including suborbital and orbital missions, as well as orbital re-entry, for customers across the global space sector.