Australia's Southern Launch Secures $25M Series A to Expand Spaceport

en.Wedoany.com Reported - Australian space infrastructure company Southern Launch has completed a $25 million Series A funding round, with proceeds earmarked for expanding its spaceport, growing its team, and scaling launch, re-entry, and range services. The round was led by Brindabella and Company, including a $10 million investment from the National Reconstruction Fund Corporation (NRFC), a sovereign investor representing Australia's manufacturing capabilities. Other participants included former Macquarie Group CEO Nicholas Moore, former CFO Alex Harvey, and Coupland Asset Management.

Southern Launch stated that the funding will support further expansion of its infrastructure and operational capacity following the commencement of commercial launch and spacecraft re-entry activities in Australia. Company CEO Lloyd Damp said the round is a significant milestone for the company and a vote of confidence in Australia's sovereign space capabilities. With support from top-tier investors and the federal government through the NRFC, the company is expanding its infrastructure and capabilities with the goal of making Australia a global leader in launch and re-entry, while unlocking new economic opportunities in low Earth orbit and beyond.

Since completing Australia's first commercial rocket launch in 2020, the company has developed vertically integrated capabilities supporting orbital and suborbital launches, hypersonic flight, spacecraft re-entry, and range services. In February 2025, the company completed the world's first commercial spacecraft re-entry at the Koonibba Test Range, followed by three additional re-entry missions, most recently supporting the return of the Varda W-6 capsule in May 2026. Earlier this year, the company also supported NASA's Artemis II lunar mission.

Anthony Wilson, CEO of Brindabella and Company, believes Southern Launch is capable of supporting Australia's position in the global space sector. He stated that the company is a globally unique entity, supporting orbital and suborbital launches, land and maritime drone and counter-drone range testing services, hypersonic testing, and the emerging microgravity drug discovery industry, and is well-positioned to help Australia become a global hub in the trillion-dollar space economy.

NRFC CEO David Gall said the investment aims to meet the demand for launch and re-entry services in the Southern Hemisphere. He noted that Southern Launch addresses a pressing need for rocket launch and re-entry services in the region, and the NRFC's investment resolves a global bottleneck in the space industry by securing this sovereign capability for Australia.

Southern Launch stated that its launch and re-entry capabilities also support the return of materials manufactured in space, including drugs developed in microgravity, which can be applied in fields such as medicine, advanced manufacturing, and national security. Senator Tim Ayres, Federal Minister for Science, Industry, and Innovation, said the NRFC investment will support the company's expansion plans, including scaling operations and adding 150 employees. He noted this is an example of the Albanese Labor Government's "Future Made in Australia" agenda in action, enhancing national resilience and unlocking economic opportunities.

Southern Launch operates the Koonibba Test Range (developed in partnership with the Koonibba Community Aboriginal Corporation) and the Whalers Way Orbital Launch Complex in South Australia. The company stated that its operations create jobs, support skills development, and involve local community members in mission execution.