Space race hots up as second player eyes Queensland launch base
An Australian company has revealed sky-high plans to launch rockets from far north Queensland as the state’s space race heats up.
A launch site at Cape York is part of a space proposal by Sydney-based CosmoVision Global Corporation, which hopes to secure approval to start building a ātechnology parkā by early 2021.
The āspace portā will be used to launch rockets weighing more than 400 tonnes and powered by non-toxic fuel, corporation boss Ilya Osadchuk said in statement.
āWe can hopefully meet the mandatory requirements for obtaining our licence to set up and operate our space port and launch facility in Cape York,ā he said.
The proposal is yet to get a green light from state or federal governments or nearby Indigenous groups, or pass essential environmental requirements.
Despite the many necessary approvals, the corporation said it has already secured āinternational launch vehiclesā and has global investors lined up.
The operation plans to launch satellites for commercial telecommunications among other uses.
Itās not the only space proposal on the cards for Queensland with the stateās alternative government ā the LNP ā a couple of weeks ago revealing plans for a $15 million rocket launch pad near the central city of Bowen if victorious at the October 31 election.
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Gilmour Space Technologies would be the anchor tenant of the government-owned facility, and the firm already has contracts with customers who need to launch in an easterly direction.
In mid-September, a 3.4-metre rocket became Australiaās first commercial launch to the edge of space, from South Australia.
The Federal Government is investing $7 billion in growing Australiaās space capabilities over the next decade.
-AAP
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