NASA’s maiden rocket launch from a commercialized spaceport outside of the US took place on an inconspicuous piece of red dirt in far-off Australia, making history in the process. Early on Monday local time, the small location saw the launch of the sub-orbital rocket.
According to NASA, it will allow for astrophysics research that is currently only possible in the Southern Hemisphere. Additionally, it marked the very first launch in Australia in more than 25 years.
From the recently built Arnhem Space Centre on the outskirts of the Northern Territory, the rocket will be the first of three being launched by NASA. It should facilitate research into how the light from a star affects the habitability of neighboring planets.
The rocket was only visible to spectators who journeyed to the isolated spot for around 10 seconds before it entered the Earth’s atmosphere.
“It was in the blink of an eye, but to me, it was like it was in slow motion because the whole area just lit up,” Yirrkala School co-principal Merrkiyawuy Ganambarr-Stubbs gave his views to the Australian Broadcasting Corporation.
“Without getting too deep into the science, it was effectively a large X-ray camera looking at various astrological phenomenon and trying to capture parts of boulders in the Milky Way and particularly the star cluster of Alpha Centauri,”
Arnhem Space Centre chief executive Michael Jones to the local network Nine.
Natasha Fyles, the chief minister of the Northern Territory, described the launch as “very proud” for Australia and noted that it had taken place with the consent of the area’s Aboriginal traditional owners.
Australia has intensified its space efforts by announcing a defense agency aimed at thwarting the aspirations of China and Russia in space. The world’s very first equatorial launch complex that is privately owned and operated is the Arnhem Space Centre.
“We have achieved a remarkable feat and made a huge mark in the history of Australia’s journey in space,”
Michael Jones
On July 4th, the following launch is anticipated.
All materials and debris will be collected by NASA and returned to the US.
Image credits: NASA
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