Southern Launch has secured $25 million in Series A funding to expand its spaceport infrastructure, increase its workforce and grow launch, re-entry and range services, with the company saying the investment will strengthen Australia’s manufacturing and sovereign space capabilities.
The funding round was led by Brindabella and Company and includes a $10 million investment from the National Reconstruction Fund Corporation (NRFC), Australia’s sovereign investor in manufacturing capability.
Other investors include former Macquarie Group CEO and CFO Nicholas Moore and Alex Harvey, and Coupland Asset Management.
According to Southern Launch, the funding will support the expansion of its infrastructure and operations following its commercial launch and spacecraft re-entry activities in Australia.
Southern Launch CEO Lloyd Damp said the investment marked an important step in the company’s growth.
“This raise is a major milestone for Southern Launch and a strong vote of confidence in Australia’s sovereign space capability,” Damp said.
“With the backing of world-class investors and the Australian Federal Government through the NRFC, we are scaling infrastructure and capabilities to position Australia as a global leader in launch and re-entry, while unlocking new economic opportunities in low-Earth orbit and beyond.”
Southern Launch said it has developed vertically integrated capabilities supporting orbital and suborbital launches, hypersonic flight, spacecraft re-entry and range services since conducting Australia’s first commercial rocket launch in 2020.
The company said it facilitated the world’s first commercial spacecraft re-entry at the Koonibba Test Range in February 2025 and completed three additional re-entries, most recently supporting the Varda W-6 capsule’s return in May 2026. It also supported NASA’s Artemis II lunar mission earlier this year.
Brindabella and Company CEO Anthony Wilson said the company viewed Southern Launch as well placed to support Australia’s position in the global space sector.
“Southern Launch is a globally unique business supporting orbital and sub-orbital launch, range testing services for terrestrial and maritime UAS and C-UAS, hypersonic testing, in addition to the burgeoning microgravity drug discovery industry,” Wilson said.
“Southern Launch is well positioned to help Australia become a global centre in the rapidly growing trillion-dollar space economy.”
NRFC CEO David Gall said the investment addresses demand for launch and re-entry services in the Southern Hemisphere.
“Southern Launch meets a critical need for rocket launch and re-entry services in the Southern Hemisphere and NRFC investment addresses a global bottleneck in the space industry by securing this sovereign capability for Australia,” Gall said.
Southern Launch said its launch and re-entry capabilities also support the return of materials manufactured in space, including pharmaceuticals developed in microgravity, with applications across medicine, advanced manufacturing and national security.
Federal Minister for Science, Industry and Innovation Senator Tim Ayres said the NRFC investment would support the company’s planned expansion.
“This investment from the National Reconstruction Fund supports the company’s ambition to build out its operations and grow its workforce by 150 people,” Ayres said.
“This is an example of the Albanese Labor Government’s Future Made in Australia agenda at work, strengthening national resilience, unlocking economic opportunity and building capability and high quality, secure jobs in our outer suburbs and our regions.”
Southern Launch operates the Koonibba Test Range, developed in partnership with the Koonibba Community Aboriginal Corporation, and the Whalers Way Orbital Launch Complex in South Australia.
The company said its operations create employment opportunities, support skills development and involve local community members in mission delivery.
