Wagner Corporation, the proprietor of the Toowoomba Wellcamp Airport and Business Park in Queensland, has partnered with Virgin Orbit to bring national air-launch capability to Australia.
As part of their memorandum of understanding, the companies will begin the deployment of national launch capability from the country in an effort to provide satellite launch services from the Toowoomba Wellcamp Airport using Virgin Orbit’s LauncherOne System.
The two companies said they are looking into the potential of certifying Toowoomba Wellcambp Airport as a national spaceport that will begin facilitating an orbital launch demonstration as early as 2024.
In a media statement, Virgin Orbit said the project seeks to catalyse the growing Australian small satellite and space solutions market, stimulate local economic growth, support commercial and civil endeavours, and provide the Australian government and defence with a flexible, responsible, and flight-proven national launch capability.
The collaboration will initially focus on tailoring LauncherOne operations in Toowoomba Wellcamp Airport to comply with Australian launch licensing regulatory requirements and spaceport-specific operations.
“We’re thrilled to be working alongside Wagner Corporation, one of the region’s most successful privately-owned companies, to bring the first national orbital launch to Australia,” said Virgin Orbit CEO Dan Hart. “Combining their deep knowledge of infrastructure development and affinity for aerospace with our proven, responsive LauncherOne system, we have all the ingredients to bring spaceflight to Queensland.”
John Wagner, chairman of Wagner Corporation, said the latest agreement means Virgin Orbit will join Boeing and other international companies that are part of Wellcamp’s new world-class, Aerospace and Defence Precinct and Campus, with stage 1 due for completion by the end of 2024.
“Attracting global companies such as Virgin Orbit is recognition of the strategic advantages that Wellcamp Airport and the Aerospace and Defence Precinct offers, and we are looking forward to a long and prosperous relationship,” Wagner said.
