Equatorial Launch Australia

About Equatorial Launch Australia

Equatorial Launch Australia (ELA) operates as the owner and developer of the Arnhem Space Centre (ASC), a multi-user commercial spaceport in Northern Australia. The company was founded in 2015 by Scott Wallis, a former Royal Australian Air Force flight test navigator with experience in high-altitude rocket trials. His background in defence and understanding of sub-orbital rocketry highlighted the fuel-saving advantages of launching near the equator, a concept central to ELA's strategy.

ELA's core business is providing comprehensive, full-service access to space for rocket companies and their payload customers. The business model is structured around a 'you build the rockets, we'll take care of the rest' philosophy, generating revenue through launch fees and a wide array of support services. These services include mission planning, regulatory assistance, launch preparation and execution, vehicle recovery, and propellant management. The company caters to a global market of commercial, research, and government organizations seeking to launch small to medium-sized rockets for sub-orbital and orbital missions. A key achievement was the successful launch of three sounding rockets for NASA in June and July 2022, marking Australia's first commercial space launch and NASA's first from a commercial facility outside the US.

The primary asset, the Arnhem Space Centre, is strategically located just 12 degrees south of the equator on the Gove Peninsula. This equatorial position offers a significant physical advantage by leveraging the Earth's rotational speed, which reduces fuel requirements and increases the payload capacity for rockets, providing a distinct cost benefit. The spaceport provides access to a full range of orbits, from equatorial low-earth orbit to polar orbits and deep space trajectories. ELA is expanding the facility, which initially featured three launch pads, with plans for significant expansion to accommodate a higher frequency of launches for multiple clients. The company provides 'Resident Launcher' arrangements on a pay-per-launch basis and offers advanced, multi-user launch pads and horizontal integration facilities.