Southern Launch Opens Canberra Office To Deepen Defence And Space Ties

Australian spaceport operator, Southern Launch, has officially opened an office in Canberra as it looks to strengthen its engagement with federal government agencies, the defence sector and research institutions.

The office, located at Brindabella Business Park in Canberra’s advanced aerospace precinct, was opened by Chief Minister of the Australian Capital Territory, Andrew Barr MLA, and Acting Deputy Chief of Mission at the U.S. Embassy, Michael Clausen. Both acknowledged the opening as a marker of Australia’s expanding space sector and the growing importance of international collaboration in defence and space.

The new presence in the national capital follows a $25 million capital raise backed by the National Reconstruction Fund Corporation, and comes as Southern Launch continues to position itself as a key player in Australia’s defence and space infrastructure.

Building A Canberra Footprint

Southern Launch is headquartered in Adelaide and operates two spaceport facilities: the Koonibba Test Range and the Whalers Way Orbital Launch Complex. The Canberra office adds a second permanent location to its footprint and places the company closer to the centre of national policy development, defence capability planning and scientific research.

The office is intended to support the company’s work across sovereign capability, advanced manufacturing, emerging technologies, national security and economic growth.

CEO of Southern Launch, Lloyd Damp, described the expansion as a reflection of the company’s trajectory and the broader significance of the space sector to Australia’s future.

“Canberra sits at the heart of national policy development, defence capability planning and scientific research,” Damp explained. “Having a presence here allows us to strengthen relationships and support the collaborative efforts required to build a globally competitive Australian space industry.”

Track Record In Commercial Space

Founded in 2017, Southern Launch has notched a series of firsts for the Australian space industry. The company conducted Australia’s first commercial space launch and oversaw what it describes as the first commercial spacecraft re-entry to a commercial spaceport.

The company has worked with a range of international organisations including Varda Space Industries, AtSpace, HyImpulse, Lux Aeterna and SpaceWorks Enterprises. It has also supported NASA-related mission activities, including work connected to the Artemis II mission.

Those partnerships reflect a growing pattern of collaboration between Australia and the global space sector, with the country increasingly being used as a base for commercial space operations.

Services Across Launch And Re-Entry

Southern Launch provides integrated mission services and infrastructure spanning launch, return and testing operations. Its work covers orbital and suborbital launch as well as hypersonic flight and re-entry missions.

The company serves civil, commercial and national security customers, providing what it describes as sovereign infrastructure and operational capability from the Southern Hemisphere.

Defence And National Security Focus

The Canberra office is expected to play a role in deepening Southern Launch’s ties with the defence establishment and federal agencies involved in space and national security policy.

The company has positioned itself as a contributor to Australia’s sovereign space capability, and its proximity to decision-makers in Canberra is designed to support that engagement as the national space sector continues to develop.

Last Updated on August 10, 2026 by Nick Ross