Toowoomba Wellcamp Airport and Business Park in Queensland, Australia, could become the latest base for Virgin Orbit to launch satellites into space as soon as 2024.
In collaboration with Wagner Corporation, Virgin Orbit is exploring the potential to certify Toowoomba as a national spaceport to perform an orbital launch demonstration in 2024. The satellite launch provider signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Wagner Corporation earlier this month on 20 September with the two companies looking to catalyse the maturing Australian small satellite and space solutions market, stimulate local economic growth and support commercial as well as civil endeavours.
The agreement will see the two companies focus their initial efforts on tailoring Virgin Orbit launch operations from Toowoomba Wellcamp Airport to comply with Australian launch licensing regulatory requirements and spaceport-specific operations. It will also allow for a roadmap outlining how Virgin Orbit’s Mobile Ground Support Equipment and other necessary infrastructure could be built and staged at the airport. It will also pave the way for the airport to gain recognition as Australia’s leading space innovation centre.
“Virgin Orbit’s selection of Toowoomba Wellcamp Airport for its newest national spaceport, to perform satellite launches, was extremely exciting and a further singificant boost for Queensland and Australia,” said Wagner Corporation Chairman, John Wagner. “Wellcamp Airport and Business Park is on track to become one of the most sustainable carbon neutral destinations internationally.”
Meanwhile, Virgin Orbit CEO, Dan Hart added: “We’re thrilled to be working alongside Wagner Corporation, one of the region’s most successful privately-owned companies, to bring the first national orbital launch to Australia. Combining their deep knowledge of infrastructure development and affinity for aerospace with our proven, responsive LauncherOne system, we have all the ingredients to bring spaceflight to Queensland.”
