South Australia’s outback is cementing its status as a global hub for space technology, with Japanese orbital logistics startup ElevationSpace selecting the Koonibba Test Range as its primary overland recovery site.
Under a new commercial deal signed with Southern Launch, the test range – located on the Far West Coast – will serve as the primary landing location for uncrewed capsules bringing experimental materials and research back from low Earth orbit.
The partnership marks ElevationSpace’s first re-entry agreement in Australia, targeting initial recovery operations for its ELS-R200 spacecraft.
Southern Launch will manage regulatory approvals, tracking, and physical capsule retrieval in the outback.
The contract comes during a high-cadence period for the facility, which also holds a long-term agreement with US-based Varda Space Industries for up to 20 spacecraft returns.
Operated in partnership with the Koonibba Community Aboriginal Corporation, the range provides a vast, 41,000-square-kilometre uninhabited corridor, making it a leading global alternative to traditional ocean splashdowns.
