Southern Launch to Support Orbital Re-Entries of Lux Aeterna’s Reusable Satellites in South Australia

Southern Launch, provider of bespoke space mission services including orbital launch, suborbital missions, orbital re-entries, and range services, led by Lloyd Damp, Rebecca Darcey, Tori Murray, and others, and Lux Aeterna, building the world’s first fleet of reusable satellites to transform the future of space operations for defense, intelligence, commercial, and in-space manufacturing customers, led by Brian Taylor, have signed a contract to conduct orbital re-entries of Lux Aeterna’s reusable satellite infrastructure to the Koonibba Test Range in South Australia. 

The partnership enables circular space manufacturing and operations by providing rapid, reliable, and flexible access to orbit, helping governments, businesses, and research organizations unlock greater value from the space economy.

Under the agreement, two Lux Aeterna Delphi satellites will return to Southern Launch’s Koonibba Test Range, with the first mission planned for 2027.

Lux Aeterna is developing a reusable Low Earth Orbit satellite platform designed for defense, intelligence, and commercial missions, including technology demos, hypersonic and materials testing, in-orbit servicing, and in-space manufacturing. Delphi is engineered to survive atmospheric re-entry, enabling routine recovery of both the satellite and payload to accelerate technology development.

“Lux Aeterna’s mission is to make repeatable space operations as routine as reusable launch,” said founder and CEO Brian Taylor. “Partnering with Southern Launch lets us fly at the cadence needed to validate our reusable satellite platform and deliver value to the broader space community.”

Under the partnership, Southern Launch will deliver end-to-end support for each orbital re-entry, covering regulatory approvals, range operations, air and maritime coordination, and recovery.

“Southern Launch is a global leader in orbital re-entry services, and Lux Aeterna’s technology is critical to the future of in-space research. We’re excited to partner to safely return their spacecraft to the Koonibba Test Range,” said CEO Lloyd Damp.

The Koonibba Test Range in South Australia is one of the world’s most suitable locations for spacecraft re-entry, offering low air traffic and more than 41,000 square kilometers of open land. The range is operated by Southern Launch in partnership with the Koonibba Community Aboriginal Corporation.