Altair Orbital

Building space launch vehicles that put Australia in control of its future in space

The space domain has become essential to our daily lives. As a nation, establishing and maintaining sovereign access to space will not only enhance Australia’s national power but also build resilience amid global political instability and fragile international relationships. Advances in technology miniaturisation have led to the development of smaller satellites that are both cost-efficient and as capable as traditional, high-cost satellites. This paradigm shift towards launching many smaller satellites increases the likelihood of mission success while significantly reducing development times and costs. The reduced size and weight of these satellites lessen launch requirements, enabling more compact and less complex space vehicles to serve this emerging market. Recognising this shift, Australia is uniquely positioned to mobilize its resources and develop a sovereign launch capability that captures this growing market and amplifies the benefits of space for humanity. Altair Orbital is committed to providing sovereign, cost-effective access to space from within Australia.

Benefits

Sovereign space launch operations within Australia to support key national priorities
Lowering production costs by leveraging established and simple design elements
Reusability features designed to save resources and minimise waste
Grow, strengthen and sustain the STEM workforce in Australia.

Technology

Altair Orbital will leverage Australia’s existing space enterprise to rapidly build, test, and launch space vehicles from South Australia. By utilising off-the-shelf technology and sourcing key components from friendly nations, combined with rocket reusability features, they aim to reduce development costs and maximise resource efficiency, enabling them to offer low-cost launch services into space.

Potential markets

The primary customers for Australia’s sovereign rocket launch services will include the Australian government, international partners, universities, startups and research organisations. These customers are mainly focused on deploying small satellites for communications, Earth observation, scientific research and technology demonstration. By catering to this diverse group, the launch service will support a wide range of missions—from national security and environmental monitoring to academic research and commercial innovation—positioning Australia as a key provider in the growing small satellite launch market.

Partnering opportunities

Altair Orbital will be working with domestic and international partners in order to assist with the construction, testing schedule, launch and recovery operations.