The NRFC has made a $10 million direct equity investment in Southern Launch, a pioneering aerospace company that builds and operates spaceports expanding the frontier for commercial and national security space missions.
NRFC investment in Southern Launch will help to establish a future space manufacturing hub and supply chain businesses in South Australia. It supports economic activity in the region, new jobs and opportunities within the emerging space industry all while fortifying a critical national supply chain.
About Southern Launch
Southern Launch operates three sites in South Australia that facilitate rocket launches into orbit, enable sub-orbital launch, and provide range management services that allow companies to test and develop medical therapies, rockets, hypersonic technologies and drones in space. It helped to track the Artemis II lunar mission in April 2026 and delivered the world’s first commercial spacecraft re-entry with Varda Space Industries in February 2025.
Investment impact
Building sovereign capability
NRFC investment in Southern Launch will secure sovereign space capability for Australia while fortifying a critical national supply chain.
Australia’s sovereign industrial capability needed to test rockets, drones, and other national security technology.
Contributing to economic diversity and resilience
NRFC investment in Southern Launch will help to establish a future space manufacturing hub and supply chain businesses in South Australia.
First Nations economic participation
Koonibba Community Aboriginal Corporation is a shareholder, and Southern Launch collaborates with Koonibba Traditional Owners including through cultural monitoring of launch and re-entry activities.
Creating local jobs and advancing regional development
Southern Launch currently employs 35 people and, as a result of this funding round, expects to grow its workforce to 185 full time jobs including in regional South Australia.