Southern Launch
Summary active Updated Jul 1, 2026This profile is AI-generated. If you spot an error, please help us fix it by sharing a URL to the correct information.
Founders
About
Southern Launch is a South Australia-based rocket launch and re-entry services company that operates the Koonibba Test Range near Ceduna — the site of the world’s first commercial spacecraft re-entry in February 2025 — and is developing the Whalers Way Orbital Launch Complex near Port Lincoln 123. The company closed a A$25M Series A on July 1, 2026, led by national security investment firm Brindabella and Company, with a A$10M direct equity investment from the Australian federal government’s National Reconstruction Fund alongside former Macquarie Group CEO Nicholas Moore, former CFO Alex Harvey, and Coupland Asset Management 123. Southern Launch currently employs 35 people and plans to grow to 185 full-time jobs as it scales its Southern Hemisphere launch infrastructure 12.
Disclaimer: This is a lean profile built from initial round coverage and may be expanded as more information becomes available.
Funding History
| Date | Round | Amount | Lead | Co-investors |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-07-01 | Series A | A$25M | Brindabella and Company | National Reconstruction Fund, Nicholas Moore, Alex Harvey, Coupland Asset Management 123 |
What Investors Say
“Southern Launch is well positioned to help Australia become a global centre in the rapidly growing trillion-dollar space economy.” — Anthony Wilson, CEO, Brindabella & Company, Southern Launch announcement, June 30, 2026 3
“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.” — David Gall, CEO, National Reconstruction Fund Corporation, Southern Launch announcement, June 30, 2026 3
What Founders Say
“This raise is a major milestone for Southern Launch and a strong vote of confidence in Australia’s sovereign space capability.” — Lloyd Damp, CEO, Southern Launch, official announcement, June 30, 2026 3
Sources
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SmartCompany, “Australian rocket launch startup Southern Launch raises $25 million,” July 1, 2026. Accessed July 2026. https://www.smartcompany.com.au/startupsmart/australian-rocket-launch-startup-southern-launch-raises-25-million/↩↩↩↩
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Capital Brief, “Southern Launch raises $25m in NRF-backed series A round,” July 2026. Accessed July 2026. https://www.capitalbrief.com/briefing/southern-launch-raises-25m-in-nrf-backed-series-a-round-7189b922-c223-45f7-8497-00c9c7822f50/↩↩↩↩
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Southern Launch, “Southern Launch closes $25 million funding round,” June 30, 2026. Accessed July 2026. https://www.southernlaunch.space/news-feed/southern-launch-closes-25-million-funding-round↩↩↩↩↩↩