Southern Launch
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2017
- HeadquartersHindmarsh, Australia
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingServices
Southern Launch firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Southern Launch
- Legal name
- SouthernLaunch.Space Pty Ltd
- Website
- https://southernlaunch.space
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2017
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Southern Launch industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Commercial Spaceport Services
- NAICS
- Guided Missile and Space Vehicle Manufacturing (336414)
- SIC
- Guided Missiles & Space Vehicles & Parts (3760)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Launch Vehicles & Orbital Rockets (IMABACAA)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Space Logistics & In-Orbit Servicing (Refueling, Tug, Debris Removal) (IMABACAM), Spacecraft & Satellites (Civil/Commercial) (IMABACAB)
Keywords
Where Southern Launch is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Hindmarsh
- HQ country
- Australia
- HQ region
- Oceania
Offices3 records
Markets served
Southern Launch business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales
Revenue model
- Launch Services: Providing orbital and suborbital launch infrastructure and operations to rocket manufacturers and launch service providers. Services include launch pad access, range safety, regulatory approvals, and mission operations support.
- Re-Entry Services: End-to-end orbital re-entry operations including regulatory approvals, range safety, airspace management, tracking, and capsule recovery at the Koonibba Test Range.
- Range Services: Testing and validation services for cutting-edge space technology using the Koonibba Test Range infrastructure.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Other | Multi-year contract | Bespoke mission services |
Go-to-market motion2 records
Distribution channels2 records
Marketing channels5 records
Southern Launch product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Southern Launch provides bespoke space mission services from two licensed spaceports in South Australia. The Whalers Way Orbital Launch Complex supports orbital launches to polar, sun-synchronous and 135-degree inclination orbits, while the Koonibba Test Range covers over 41,000 square kilometres for suborbital testing and orbital re-entry recovery. End-to-end range services include regulatory approvals, airspace and maritime coordination, tracking, and capsule recovery for commercial launch service providers, satellite operators, in-space manufacturers, and government agencies.
Product overview
Southern Launch is a space mission services provider offering a portfolio of launch and re-entry infrastructure products. Its core offerings consist of the Whalers Way Orbital Launch Complex for orbital satellite launches into polar and sun-synchronous orbits, the Koonibba Test Range providing suborbital testing and orbital re-entry recovery across 41,000+ square kilometres, and comprehensive range services covering regulatory approvals, safety management, and recovery operations. The company operates in partnership with international space companies and the Koonibba Community Aboriginal Corporation to deliver end-to-end mission services.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Whalers Way Orbital Launch Complex Orbital launch complex located at the tip of the Eyre Peninsula in South Australia, supporting direct ascent trajectories from 55 to 177 degrees including polar, sun-synchronous orbits and 135-degree inclination launches. Used by commercial launch service providers and rocket manufacturers for orbital satellite deployment.
- Orbital Re-Entry Services End-to-end orbital re-entry services including regulatory approvals, range safety, airspace management, tracking, and recovery of capsules and satellites. Offers flexibility for overland or overwater re-entries at Koonibba Test Range. Serves spacecraft operators and in-space manufacturers returning payloads from orbit.
- Suborbital Mission Services Spaceport operations for suborbital missions including launch vehicle development testing, microgravity experimentation, and hypersonic flight from Southern Launch's two spaceports. Used by rocket developers, research institutions, and hypersonic vehicle developers.
- Range Services Comprehensive range operations including regulatory approvals, range management, airspace and maritime coordination, tracking, and recovery operations across the Koonibba Test Range's over 41,000 square kilometres of secure land. Used by launch service providers, defense organizations, and research institutions for technology validation and testing.
Companies that use Southern Launch
Customer profileNamed customers7 records
Segments4 records
Ideal customer profiles3 records
Southern Launch technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Integration2 records
Feature3 records
Southern Launch partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
14 partnerships are on record, tiered core, flagship and minor.
- Lux AeternacoreDenver-based startup developing reusable Delphi satellite platform for defense, intelligence, and commercial missions. Contract signed for two Delphi satellites to return to Koonibba Test Range, with first mission targeted for 2027.
- INNOSPACEcoreSouth Korean launch service provider signed for orbital satellite launches and suborbital test missions from Southern Launch's Whalers Way Orbital Launch Complex and Koonibba Test Range. Operations expected to commence from 2026 and continue for at least a decade. Partnership enables INNOSPACE to expand globally with flexible, rapid-launch options from Australian facilities.
- Varda Space IndustriesflagshipUS company conducting orbital re-entry capsule missions (W-2 through W-6) returned to Koonibba Test Range. Spacecraft carries payloads from NASA and US government partners for thermal protection systems testing and in-space pharmaceutical manufacturing. Contract for additional 20 spacecraft returns signed.
- SpaceXminorSpaceX provides launch services for Varda capsule missions that return to Koonibba Test Range. Varda capsules launched aboard SpaceX Transporter missions.
- SpaceWorks EnterprisescoreUS-based company developing atmospheric Re-Entry Devices (RED) for low-cost, autonomous return of payloads from Earth orbit. Multiple re-entry missions planned at Koonibba Test Range. First recovery to support COSMIC demonstration mission funded by NASA TechLeap Prize and NASA SBIR Phase III contract.
- Defence SAcorePartnership with South Australian Government supporting hypersonic flight testing initiatives and broader space industry development.
- UNASTELLA CorporationcoreSouth Korean rocket manufacturer signing Launch Facility Agreement for at least four launches per year from Whalers Way. First launch scheduled for late 2025.
- HyImpulsecoreGerman rocket manufacturer successfully launched SR75 rocket from Koonibba Test Range. MoU signed for more missions from KTR and exploration of using Whalers Way for SL1 orbital vehicle launches.
- HypersonixcoreMoU signed to establish Australia as home for hypersonic flight testing from Southern Launch facilities.
- Engineers AustraliaminorService level agreement providing Engineers Australia membership for Southern Launch engineers, access to technical resources, and opportunity for Chartered status recognition.
- Rocket Factory Augsburg (RFA)coreEuropean launch service provider partnership for RFA ONE launcher to be launched from Whalers Way Orbital Launch Complex. Provides direct ascent into sun-synchronous and polar orbits. RFA ONE can deliver up to 1,350 kg to 300-km polar orbit.
- Space ForgeminorUK-based company MoU to explore satellite return capabilities to Koonibba Test Range.
- Koonibba Community Aboriginal CorporationflagshipNine-year collaboration developing the Koonibba Test Range. Partnership creates unique sovereign capability servicing global space industry. Community involved in mission oversight, cultural monitoring, and receives economic benefits from space operations.
- DLR (German Aerospace Centre)coreCooperation agreement for suborbital and orbital space launch activities, particularly in reusable launch vehicles (RLV). Organizations working to establish educational sounding rocket program in Australia. DLR considering Koonibba Test Range for testing new rocket technologies with ReFEx mission planned for mid-2024.
Scale indicators5 records
Recent moves7 records
Expansion highlights6 records
Southern Launch competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Spaceport America: State-operated commercial spaceport in New Mexico offering vertical launch and range services to launch providers. Comparable to Southern Launch as a multi-user spaceport operator providing launch pads, range safety, and regulatory coordination services to commercial customers.
- Andøya Space: Norwegian suborbital launch and range services operator with sounding rocket capabilities and test range infrastructure. Highly comparable to Southern Launch as a government-linked range services provider offering suborbital launches, technology testing, and payload recovery services.
- Swedish Space Corporation (Esrange Space Center): Operates the Esrange Space Center in northern Sweden offering sounding rocket launches, balloon flights, and satellite ground station services. Comparable to Southern Launch as a sovereign European spaceport providing suborbital launch and range services to commercial and government customers.
- SaxaVord Spaceport: UK vertical launch spaceport under development on the Shetland Islands targeting polar/sun-synchronous orbit launches. Directly comparable to Whalers Way as a polar-orbit-focused spaceport serving European launch customers seeking high-inclination trajectories.
Broad incumbents
- Rocket Lab: US-listed launch services company operating its own launch complexes (Wallops, Mahia) while also providing launch services to commercial and government customers. Broadly comparable to Southern Launch as a multi-site launch operator, though vertically integrated as a launch provider rather than a pure range services company.
- SpaceX: Largest commercial launch provider operating multiple spaceports (Cape Canaveral, Vandenberg, Boca Chica, Starbase). Serves as both an upstream launch provider for Varda capsules returning to Koonibba and a benchmark competitor for orbital launch customers that Southern Launch's tenants might alternatively use.
Emerging players
- HyImpulse: German small launch vehicle developer that has flown from Koonibba Test Range and signed MoU with Southern Launch. Emerging peer as both a customer and adjacent service provider for suborbital launch and orbital launch services from Australian facilities.
- Rocket Factory Augsburg (RFA): German micro-launch startup signed to launch from Whalers Way Orbital Launch Complex for polar and SSO delivery. Comparable as an emerging European launch service provider that overlaps with Southern Launch's customer base and may compete for the same downstream satellite operators.
Regional players
- Equatorial Launch Australia: Operates the Arnhem Space Centre in Northern Territory, Australia, providing equatorial and mid-inclination launch services. Regional peer as the only other operational commercial spaceport in Australia, though it serves different orbital inclinations than Whalers Way.
Others
- DLR (German Aerospace Center): German national space agency that has signed cooperation agreements with Southern Launch for suborbital launches including the ReFEx mission. Comparable as a public-sector counterpart and customer for range services, though DLR also operates its own test ranges (e.g., Lampoldshausen) and is not a direct competitor.
Market position
Strengths4 records
Weaknesses4 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks5 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
Southern Launch social profiles
Digital presenceSouthern Launch compliance and trust
Trust signalCompliance3 records
Southern Launch financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Southern Launch leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles11 records
Southern Launch funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds1 record
Investors3 records
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Southern Launch M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Southern Launch
What does Southern Launch do?
Southern Launch provides bespoke space mission services from two licensed spaceports in South Australia. The Whalers Way Orbital Launch Complex supports orbital launches to polar, sun-synchronous and 135-degree inclination orbits, while the Koonibba Test Range covers over 41,000 square kilometres for suborbital testing and orbital re-entry recovery. End-to-end range services include regulatory approvals, airspace and maritime coordination, tracking, and capsule recovery for commercial launch service providers, satellite operators, in-space manufacturers, and government agencies.
Is Southern Launch a public or private company?
Southern Launch is a private company. It is classified as venture growth investor backed and is currently operating.
When was Southern Launch founded?
Southern Launch was founded in 2017. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is Southern Launch based?
Southern Launch is headquartered in Hindmarsh, Australia, in the Oceania region.
How does Southern Launch make money?
Three revenue lines are on record. Launch Services are the primary driver. The others are re-Entry Services and range Services.
Who are Southern Launch's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Spaceport America, Andøya Space, Swedish Space Corporation (Esrange Space Center) and SaxaVord Spaceport. Broad incumbents are Rocket Lab and SpaceX. Emerging players are HyImpulse and Rocket Factory Augsburg (RFA). Equatorial Launch Australia is listed as a regional player. DLR (German Aerospace Center) is listed as an others.
Does Southern Launch have an API?
No public API is recorded for Southern Launch.
What industry is Southern Launch in?
Southern Launch's product category is Commercial Spaceport Services. Its primary akta.pro industry code is IMABACAA, Launch Vehicles & Orbital Rockets, with a secondary code of IMABACAM, Space Logistics & In-Orbit Servicing (Refueling, Tug, Debris Removal). Its NAICS code is 336414 and its SIC code is 3760.