Lot Fourteen leads the nation’s space launch service expertise

Lot Fourteen is now home to two of Australia’s three leading space launch providers, after landing South Australian space company, Southern Launch, who moved in this month.

As its second SA-based office, the company’s expansion into Lot Fourteen will further strengthen collaboration across the South Australian space industry, being co-located alongside the Australian Space Agency, SmartSat CRC and other leading space organisations.

Deputy Premier and Minister for Defence and Space Industries, Susan Close MP, says “Southern Launch are a welcome addition to Lot Fourteen and will fuel further innovation and collaboration with local space companies and build on the State’s growing reputation as being at the centre of the Australian space industry.”

Lot Fourteen State Project Lead, Di Dixon, welcomed Southern Launch to the district, saying Lot Fourteen is growing a strong community with boundless collaboration across over 150 defence, space and critical technologies companies; who are all choosing the innovation district as their base.

“Southern Launch is playing a key role in expanding space exploration innovation in this country, while driving sustainable job creation and upskilling opportunities,” Ms Dixon says.

“South Australia already holds competitive advantage in the space sector and Lot Fourteen is helping build the ecosystem for current and future success.”

The company conducted three test launch campaigns for customers in 2022 from their Koonibba Test Range and the Whalers Way Orbital Launch Complex which is currently proposed for development, subject to final approval, on the Eyre Peninsula of South Australia.

The team continues to grow with more than ten people employed in the last 12 months, and more to follow in the coming weeks.

The lure of working in space is seeing people moving from the eastern states to work at Southern Launch, alongside a strong contingent of South Australian staff who have been able to find a job in the space industry in their own backyard.

Southern Launch CEO, Lloyd Damp, says space launch is central to any space exploration; and having access to space from right here in South Australia means local companies can get into space quicker and more economically than overseas options.

“Being located at Lot Fourteen means we can collaborate on missions with South Australian space companies and propel the local space industry onto the global stage,” Mr Damp says.

“Fostering collaboration with a range of different companies in the innovation district, Southern Launch has already identified ways to harness the collaboration and innovation Lot Fourteen provides.”

South Australia is committed to further growing the local space industry and building on the state’s strong history of activity in this sector.