Black Sky Aerospace

Black Sky Aerospace (also known as BSA) is an Australian private aerospace company, headquartered in Jimboomba, Queensland, Australia.[1][2][3] BSA specialises in payload delivery systems through proprietary propulsion systems, componentry and vehicles. Additionally, BSA provides access to calibration and simulation systems.

Black Sky Aerospace
TypePrivate
IndustryAerospace
Founded21 November 2018 
Headquarters
Logan City, Queensland, Australia
Key people
Services
  • Sub Orbital Launches
  • Propulsion
  • Telemetry and Avionics
  • Development and Testing
  • Consultation
  • Custom Services
Websitebsaero.space

History

In 2021, Black Sky Aerospace has welcomed the Federal Government's allocation of AU$678,487 for the company to manufacture Responsive Common Use Booster (RCUB) propellant for commercial use. Black Sky CEO Blake Nikolic said the project received grant funding from the Australian Space Agency's (ASA) Moon to Mars Supply Chain Capability Improvement grant opportunity.[4]

Milestones

Australia's First Commercial Rocket Launch

On 21 November 2018, Black Sky Aerospace successfully conducted Australia's first commercial payload rocket launch from the nation's only sub-orbital launch facility west of Goondiwindi, Queensland, Australia.[5] This sub-orbital mission utilised a Sighter190 research rocket to carry experimental payloads and instruments to an altitude of approximately 20,000-ft.[6]

The minister for state development, manufacturing, infrastructure and planning, Cameron Dick was present to press the launch button.[7]

Rocket Motor Manufacture

In September 2019, Black Sky Aerospace was granted approval by regulators to begin manufacturing solid rocket motors.[8] Solid rocket motors (SRM's) are the fuel (propellant) that boosts rockets in to space, such as the boosters on the space shuttle and is the preferred fuel to use by many space launch companies due to its simplicity and cost-effectiveness.[9] The company will be the first manufacturer of its kind in Australia and will be able to provide access to solid fuels for orbital and sub-orbital launch vehicles.

Priority Access to Arhnem Space Centre

In October 2019, Black Sky Aerospace gained priority access to the new Equatorial Launch Australia (ELA) Arnhem Space Centre in the Northern Territory.[10] Black Sky Aerospace Director Blake Nikolic said priority access to the Arnhem Space Centre would provide his customers with the benefits of launching close to the equator.[11]

Equatorial Launch Australia operates the Arnhem Space Centre, near Nhulunbuy, and plans to host NASA's first launch vehicle from a non-government owned site.[11]

Products
  • Sighter190 research rocket [12]

References
  1. "Space Activities Amendment (Launches and Returns) Bill 2018 [Provisions], Submission 9". aph.gov.au. Parliament of Australia.
  2. "RE: Submission to the Defence Trade Controls Act 2012 Review" (PDF). defence.gov.au. Department of Defence (Australia).
  3. "Media Statements> Queensland shoots and scores with successful rocket test launch". statements.qld.gov.au. Government of Queensland.
  4. "Black Sky Aerospace secures government grant - Australian Defence Magazine". australiandefence.com.au. Retrieved 7 October 2021.
  5. "Queensland sets sights on space industry with outback rocket launch". ABC News. 21 November 2018. Retrieved 27 November 2018.
  6. "Black Sky Aerospace conducts Australia's first commercial rocket launch | SpaceTech Asia". SpaceTech Asia. 21 November 2018. Retrieved 27 November 2018.
  7. Jones, Ian (21 November 2018). "'Cape' Funny Farm: Rocket launches in our area today". Goondiwindi Argus. Retrieved 27 November 2018.
  8. "Black Sky Aerospace rockets towards manufacturing solid rocket boosters". 25 September 2019.
  9. Goh, Deyana (22 October 2019). "Australia's Black Sky Aerospace to begin manufacturing Solid Rocket Motors (SRM)".
  10. Dillon, Louis (18 October 2019). "Black Sky gains priority access to NT launch site". spaceconnectonline.com.au.
  11. Wilson, Jacob (23 October 2019). "Qld rocket company set to launch from NT". Katherine Times.
  12. "Queensland shoots and scores with successful rocket test launch". Ministerial Media Statements. Retrieved 7 October 2021.
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