Phantom Space Corporation (Phantom), a space applications company providing small-class launch services to commercial and government clients has announced the selection of Arnhem Space Centre (ASC) on the Gove Peninsula in Australia’s Northern Territory for a dedicated launch site.
The Arnhem Space Centre expands Phantom’s space launch capabilities with direct access to very low-inclination and equatorial orbits. Phantom is also developing a dedicated launch site, SLC-5, at Vandenberg Space Force Base for access to polar, sun synchronous and high-inclination orbits as well as a launch site, LC-13, at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station for direct access to mid- and low-inclination orbits. ASC is also Phantom’s first launch site outside the United States providing service to the Australian market and Asia-Pacific region.
The selection of ASC marks a key milestone for Phantom and Equatorial Launch Australia (ELA), ASC’s developer, owner, and operator. The two companies have been exploring launch options under a previously undisclosed Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) signed in September 2022. The companies will now finalize a multi-launch contract and explore the generation and support for space missions of national significance for Australia and the Asia-Pacific region.
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Phantom’s ASC launch site is expected to consist of two launch pads capable of launching the company’s Daytona and Laguna launch vehicles as well as a near-by horizontal integration facility for final launch vehicle preparation, payload integration, and ground support equipment maintenance and storage.
ELA rose to prominence as an international multi-user commercial spaceport after successfully completing three commercial space launches with NASA over a 15 day period in mid in 2022. These launches were Australia’s first ever commercial launches as well as Australia’s first space launch in more than 25 years and also the first launches for NASA from a commercial spaceport.
Mark Lester, COO of Phantom Space said, “Launch sites are akin to gates at an airport—it’s imperative to have a robust portfolio to meet customer needs. Arnhem Space Centre fits perfectly into Phantom’s strategy as it broadens our direct access to new orbital regimes with a proven spaceport. In addition to ASC’s unique geography, ELA’s success with NASA’s space launches and their ability to provide a full-service spaceport at low cost were key elements in selecting ASC as our next dedicated launch site.”
SOURCE: PR Newswire