The initiative, organised by the iLAuNCH Trailblazer project, will aim to create the “long-range imaging capability” needed to make the films, as well as creating new ways to gather vital data during lift-off.
Southern Launch currently has two blast-off sites in South Australia – the traditional Whalers Way orbital launch spaceport and a separate Koonibba suborbital test range – but neither can be recorded like larger NASA or SpaceX blast-offs in the US.
“Australia’s aerospace industry currently has limited long-range imaging capability with tracking done over radar, which ultimately means our launches have not had the same high-quality capture of imagery as those internationally,” said iLAuNCH.
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“While Australia is developing a commercial launch industry, having access to quality shareable imagery on launch is essential to support this growth.
“Research will be undertaken at UniSQ over the next three years that will develop the capability to track and triangulate rockets and high-speed tests at Southern Launch ranges.
“The project will develop imaging systems along with the tracking and data fusion systems that permits us to follow the rocket on the way up, allowing us to capture exceptional quality video and imagery.
“This imagery can be used for publicity purposes, or in the event of an incident, provide important information for analysis.”
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The $180-million iLAuNCH trailblazer is a partnership between academic institutions and more than 20 industry partners that aims to accelerate the development of the space manufacturing sector.
Since its inception in 2022, it has already helped scores of projects.
“If you’re a fan of launch videos from YouTubers like Marcus House or Scott Manley, have you ever thought about how those amazing images were taken?” said iLAuNCH chief technology officer Joni Sytsma.
“Using UniSQ’s expertise in imaging launch vehicles, re-entry capsules and hypersonic flight, we expect to see live imagery of rocket launches from Southern Launch facilities in South Australia in the next year.”
It comes after Space Connect reported in July how Southern Launch signed a deal with a South Korean rocket manufacturer to host at least four blast-offs per year starting in late 2025.
The agreement will allow Unastella to iteratively test and launch a small lift rocket that will pave the way for it to eventually develop a larger crewed rocket and spaceship.
Unastella – named after the Latin words for “one star” – hopes to begin its “human space flight platform” with suborbital space tourist flights before progressing to missions to 400 kilometres (the height of the ISS) and eventually “deep space manned space exploration” to the moon and Mars.
That agreement itself followed German rocket manufacturer HyImpulse also revealing that it intended to sign up for more suborbital blast-offs from Southern Launch’s Koonibba Test Range following a successful launch in May.
Adam Thorn
Adam is a journalist who has worked for more than 40 prestigious media brands in the UK and Australia. Since 2005, his varied career has included stints as a reporter, copy editor, feature writer and editor for publications as diverse as Fleet Street newspaper The Sunday Times, fashion bible Jones, media and marketing website Mumbrella as well as lifestyle magazines such as GQ, Woman’s Weekly, Men’s Health and Loaded. He joined Momentum Media in early 2020 and currently writes for Australian Aviation and World of Aviation.
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