NASA will launch three sounding rockets from a facility in northern Australia on June 26. This is the first time in more than 50 years that NASA has used a commercial launch pad outside the United States. Australian Prime Minister Albanese announced the historic event in a statement Tuesday night, saying it would be the first NASA launch in the country since 1995. He added that about 75 NASA staff would travel to Australia to supervise the launch.
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Arnhem Space Center, Australia
The three rockets will be launched from June 26 to July 12 at the Arnhem Space Center. The center is privately owned and operated by equatorial launch Australia. These rockets will be used by NASA to study phenomena that can only be seen in the southern hemisphere.
"The project will combine global and local industries and bring the Australian aerospace industry into a new era." Albanese said. Australia and the United States have a long history of cooperation in space exploration. In 1969, during the historic Apollo 11 moon landing, the Australian tracking station provided assistance to NASA.