NASA will launch a trio of rockets from the Northern Territory beginning in late June | nickbonyhady
NASA will launch a trio of rockets from the Northern Territory beginning in late June, the first mission to blast off from a commercial facility outside the US by the leading space agency and the first from Australia this century.
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese hailed the launch as a “new era” in Australia’s space industry, which dates to the 1950s and includes work on the first moon landing in 1969. Science and Industry Minister Ed Husic pointed to the depth of collaboration on the project with the United States. “Space strengthens our economy – including in regional areas – and creates jobs across a diverse range of skillsets,” Husic said.
Thomas Zurbuchen, the associate administrator of NASA’s Science Mission Directorate, signalled the launch could lead to further collaboration. “This commercial launch range in Australia opens up new access to the Southern Hemisphere’s night sky, expanding the possibilities for future science missions,” Zurbuchen said.Another NASA official, Nicky Fox, said the launch would allow the agency to observe phenomena that could not be seen from the United States.