Australian Government Space Portal
by Organizations, Space Governmental Organizations
on . In
space@industry.gov.au
+61 2 6276 1166
Industry House, 10 Binara Street
, Canberra
, Australia
, 2600
During the heyday of rocketry research in the 1960s Australia was the seventh nation to launch a satellite, WRESAT, into orbit, and the third from its own soil. The joint British-Australian Blue Streak program to develop Intercontinental ballistic missiles ended in the late 1960s. Around the same time the European Launcher Development Organisation (ELDO) was established to develop a European satellite launch vehicle. Woomera, Australia, was chosen as the launch site for the test vehicles. Australia was granted status as the only non-European member of ELDO (one of the precursors to the European Space Agency) in return for providing the launch facilities. A series of successful launches was conducted from 1964 to 1970 with the aim of reaching orbit and eventually orbiting an operational satellite. The final launch attempt of ELDO's Europa 1 launch vehicle took place at Woomera on 12 June 1970 however the satellite failed to reach orbit.
The Australian Government Space Portal contains information on the Australian Government's space-related activities and the Australian space sector, as well as links to space-related research organisations, events and our international partners. The Australian Government engages in space-related activities to support national strategic, economic and social objectives. These activities are administered by a range of Government agencies, with the Department of Industry, via the Space Coordination Office, carrying prime responsibility for civil space issues.
The Australian Government Space Portal contains information on the Australian Government's space-related activities and the Australian space sector, as well as links to space-related research organisations, events and our international partners. The Australian Government engages in space-related activities to support national strategic, economic and social objectives. These activities are administered by a range of Government agencies, with the Department of Industry, via the Space Coordination Office, carrying prime responsibility for civil space issues.