Sirius Space Services has finalized a multi-year contract with Equatorial Launch Australia (ELA), positioning the French company as a key player at the Arnhem Space Centre (ASC) in Australia. The agreement, announced during the World Space Business Week (WSBW) in Paris, will see Sirius conducting orbital rocket launches from ASC starting in 2026.
The partnership establishes Sirius as a “Resident Launcher” at the ASC from 2025 onwards, with plans for the company to operate from its dedicated Space Launch Complex.
“I’m delighted to announce this contract with Sirius today,” said Michael Jones, Group CEO of ELA, “Sirius will become the second resident launcher at the Arnhem Space Centre which means they will leverage ELA’s advanced commercial spaceport concept, and our full suite of launch services.”
The initial phase of Sirius’ launch campaign is slated for 2026, with the development and test flights of the SIRIUS 1 rocket. This will be followed by the launch of the larger SIRIUS 13 rocket, capable of carrying payloads up to 800 kg, scheduled for 2027.
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Why Australia?
According to ELA, one of the key factors driving Sirius’ decision to select Arnhem Space Centre is the flexibility it offers in accessing various orbital paths. These include medium and low inclination orbits, Sun-synchronous orbits (SSO), and equatorial orbits.
“It was key for Sirius to have the ability to access unique orbit options to service their clients and we are probably the only place on the planet that could provide all their requirements,” Jones added.
The company will operate from Space Launch Complex No. 3, named “Le Mans”. The site will be equipped with a Horizontal Integration Facility (HIF) measuring 45m x 26m x 12m, featuring a vertical payload integration clean room and a 20-ton gantry crane.
Le Mans will include two ASC Advanced Launch Pads (callsingn ASCALP), one of which will support the SIRIUS 1, SIRIUS 13, and, in the future, the larger SIRIUS 15 variant. The second pad will serve as a backup.
The contract with Sirius marks the second “Resident Launcher” agreement for ELA. “We are currently in the final stages of negotiation with three more launchers about our resident launch contracts, so our remaining orbital complexes are filling fast,” said Jones.
“Our decision to select ELA was driven by their advanced commercial spaceport concept, which includes state-of-the-art infrastructure, innovative commercial offerings, and exceptional customer service and support,” said Sirius Space Services’ Co-Founder and CTO, François Maroquene-Froissart.
“ELA’s commitment to safety, operational excellence, and service aligns with our mission to deliver agile and competitive launch solutions to our global clientele. We hope to continue with them [after the two launches] for a very long time.”
Maroquene-Froissart also briefly talked about the possibility to launch in the future from Europe’s Spaceport in French Guiana: “Later we will be in French Guiana, but we don’t know when the launch pad will be operational.”
For our complete coverage of the WSBW, please click here.
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