Southern Launch closes $25M Series A funding

Southern Launch closes $25 million funding round lead by Australia’s leading National Security Investment Firm Brindabella and Company and the National Reconstruction Fund Corporation

Southern Launch, Australia’s leading space company and the force behind the nation’s first commercial rocket launch and the world’s first commercial spacecraft re-entry, has closed a $25 million Series A to scale its spaceport infrastructure, grow its workforce and accelerate launch, re-entry, and range services.

The raise 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.

 “This investment from the National Reconstruction Fund supports the company’s ambition to build out its operations and grow its workforce by 150 people. “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.” – Senator the Hon. Tim Ayres, Minister for Science, Industry & Innovation

Southern Launch CEO Lloyd Damp said, “This raise is a major milestone for Southern Launch and a strong vote of confidence in Australia’s sovereign space capability. 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.”

Enabling orbital and sub-orbital launch and re-entry

Since conducting Australia’s first commercial rocket launch in 2020, Southern Launch has built proven infrastructure and vertically integrated processes for orbital and suborbital launch, hypersonic flight, re-entries from space, and range services for advanced system testing. In February 2025, Southern Launch facilitated the world’s first commercial spacecraft re-entry at the Koonibba Test Range and has completed a further three re-entries, the latest landing back on Earth in May 2026. The company also supported NASA’s Artemis II lunar mission earlier this year.

“Southern Launch is a globally unique business supporting orbital & sub-orbital launch, range testing services for terrestrial & maritime UAS & C-UAS, hypersonic testing, in addition to the burgeoning microgravity drug discovery industry,” said Brindabella & Company CEO Anthony Wilson. “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, “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.”

Southern Launch’s capabilities span launching rockets, testing cutting-edge aerospace technologies and bringing spacecraft safely back to Earth. This includes returning materials manufactured in space, such as next-generation pharmaceuticals developed in microgravity, where the unique conditions of space allow for breakthroughs not possible on Earth. By enabling fast, reliable access to launch and re-entry, Southern Launch is helping turn space-based innovation into real-world outcomes in areas like medicine, advanced manufacturing, and national security.

Space capabilities benefit communities with employment and skills growth

Current spaceports include the Koonibba Test Range, developed in partnership with the Koonibba Community Aboriginal Corporation and the Whalers Way Orbital Launch Complex, both located in South Australia.

Southern Launch’s activities deliver direct benefits to local communities. At both spaceports, operations create employment opportunities, support skills development, and involve local community members in mission delivery. This ensures that the growth of Australia’s space and defence industry is shared locally and delivers meaningful, long-term outcomes for regional communities.