German Aerospace Centre, DLR,
sign a Cooperation Agreement with Australia’s Southern
Launch
Building on the MOU that was
previously signed between DLR – Space Operations and
Astronaut Training and Southern Launch on 26 March 2020,
the organisations have now signed a Cooperation
Agreement further enhancing the relationship.
The Cooperation Agreement aims to
implement joint civilian research activities in the
field of suborbital and orbital space launch, especially
in the field of reusable launch vehicles (RLV). Working
together on such activities is a major step towards
further developing Southern Launch’s capabilities and
launch sites to conduct safe and economically affordable
rocket launches.
A notable spin-off from the
agreement is that the organisations will work to
establish an educational sounding rocket program in
Australia, allowing universities to undertake
space-based research projects from the Southern
Hemisphere.
The signing of the agreement
follows the successful launch of two space capable
rockets by Southern Launch at the Koonibba Test Range,
both completed on 19 September 2020.
DLR are looking into the
feasibility of utilising Southern Launch’s Koonibba Test
Range for the testing of new rocket technologies and
launch equipment, in line with DLR’s efforts to research
and develop future reusable launcher technologies.
Together DLR and Southern Launch are working towards a
launch date of the first DLR research mission in
mid-2022.
“This cooperation unlocks flight
testing potential that is not otherwise attainable
through a joint effort by DLR and Southern Launch. It
further strengthens and adds to Mobile Rocket Base’s
cooperation with Australian research partners, adding to
the growing collaboration of the two countries in space
research and utilisation.” says Rainer Kirchhartz, Head
of DLR’s Mobile Rocket Base.
“We are very proud to be working
with DLR on a number of rocket projects and look forward
to contributing into an international space program such
as DLR’s” said Lloyd Damp, CEO of Southern Launch.
South Australian Premier Steven
Marshall said the agreement showed the demand for launch
within South Australia’s space industry.
“This collaboration is further
evidence of South Australia’s attractiveness to
international space companies, thanks to our thriving
local space industry and proven ability to facilitate
successful rocket launches from within the state,”
Premier Marshall said.
“There has never been a better time
to be involved in the space industry in this age of
global space exploration and advancement, and South
Australia is the best place to centre Australia’s global
space endeavours.”
DLR is the national aeronautics and
space research centre of Germany. Its extensive research
and development work in aeronautics, space, energy,
transport, security and digitalisation is integrated
into national and international cooperative ventures.
DLR is also responsible for the planning and
implementation of Germany's space activities on behalf
of the federal government.
Southern Launch is a private
Australian space launch services company headquartered
in Adelaide, South Australia. Southern Launch evaluates,
designs and operates rocket and UAV test ranges around
the world, as well as providing launch service provision
services to payload customers. In South Australia,
Southern Launch operate the Koonibba Test Range (KTR), a
145km long sub-orbital range in the Australian Outback,
and are developing the Whalers Way Orbital Launch
Complex (WWOLC) on the southern coastline of South
Australia to address an identified emerging gap in the
high inclination orbital rocket launch market.
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