NASA launches first rocket from Australian commercial spaceport

Category : Science and Tech Published on: June 29 2022

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NASA has successfully launched a rocket from Australia's remote Northern Territory, making history as the agency's first commercial spaceport launch outside the United States.
The rocket is expected to travel more than 300 kilometers (186 miles) into space on its mission to observe the Alpha Centauri A and B constellations -- the nearest star systems to the Earth.
Alpha Centauri bears a special meaning for Australia. It is mostly only visible from the Southern Hemisphere and is one of the "pointers" to the Southern Cross constellation that appears on the country's flag.
It was the first of three launches, with a further two planned for July 4 and July 12.
The Arnhem Space Center describes itself as the only commercially owned and run multi-user equatorial launch site in the world.