Congratulations to Blake and the team at Black Sky Aerospace from NIOA and the Australian Missile Corporation on successful completion of their rocket motor test work completed this week.Robert Nioa, CEO of NIOA, said “The expertise of Australian SMEs such as Black Sky Aerospace will be critical in developing a highly capable guided weapons enterprise.NIOA and the Australian Missile Corporation are pleased to be working with Black Sky Aerospace to support this national endeavour.”
The inaugural launch of Black Sky Aerospace’s sounding rocket was aborted over the weekend due to technical issues.The launch, considered the testbed for Australia’s first sovereign designed and built space vehicles, was scheduled to blast off on Saturday from Goondiwindi, along the NSW-Queensland border.However, strong winds forced the launch to be delayed for 24 hours.The launch was eventually aborted on Sunday due to unspecified technical issues. Another test launch is expected to take place in the coming weeks, after the necessary approvals are secured.The test was expected to see the Queensland-based start-up’s rocket soar to 35,000 feet within 38 seconds, before parachuting back to the ground. The rocket is expected to reach speeds nearly twice the speed of sound.The entire test, from launch to touch-down, is expected to take four minutes.The launch forms one part of the lead-up test and evaluation series, as Black Sky Aerospace prepares to send Australian designed and built vehicles into space in 2022.“This will be the first in a series of four launches that will see Black Sky fly the first complete sovereign made vehicle, from the rocket fuel itself, the avionics, electronics and airframe and component launching into space, in 2022,” Blake Nikolic, CEO of Black Sky Aerospace, told the Daily Telegraph.
Finally, success!! They're claiming it got to 9 kilometers.. but Falcon 9 it isn't.
Australian rocket company Black Sky Aerospace has achieved a major milestone which could lead to the development of an Australian precision guided missile.The company, working with partners including Crystalaid, achieved initial integration of guidance and control on a missile fired in Queensland.Black Sky aims to develop a next generation missile system and ensure Australian technology is at the forefront of defending the nation.Black Sky Aerospace CEO Blake Nikolic said: “As the only Australian sovereign commercial manufacturer of solid rocket propulsion for use in guided weapons, it’s natural for us to team up with other Australian companies involved in advanced manufacturing of defence technology.”
Black Sky Aerospace’s facility in Queensland has hosted a test launch of a locally developed missile, supported by its propulsion system.
I presume this test was back out at Funny Farm?
This is pretty cool/scary:QuoteFollowing the successful launch with Rocket Lab Saturday, BlackSky’s two new satellites delivered first insights in a company record of less than 12 hours after launch over Port of Gladstone, Australia
Following the successful launch with Rocket Lab Saturday, BlackSky’s two new satellites delivered first insights in a company record of less than 12 hours after launch over Port of Gladstone, Australia
Quote from: CameronD on 04/07/2022 02:14 amThis is pretty cool/scary:QuoteFollowing the successful launch with Rocket Lab Saturday, BlackSky’s two new satellites delivered first insights in a company record of less than 12 hours after launch over Port of Gladstone, AustraliaBlack Sky Aerospace isn't the company operating Blacksky satellites [zubenelgenubi: I split/merged the post to the launch thread.]
An Australian space sector minnow is taking on global defence and chemical giants in a bid to become the sole commercial supplier of a key rocket fuel ingredient for the nation’s promised sovereign missile enterprise.Black Sky Aerospace has revealed a $2m pilot program to produce ammonium perchlorate – which makes up 70 per cent of solid rocket fuel – has been successful, and it plans to establish an Australian plant with local partners to produce the chemical.
Weekday Rocket launches 0800 -0900 Window launches up to Flight Level (FL) 450, all other windows up to FL200& Weekend Rocket launches to be launched up to FL450Dates:15/01/2024 to 19/01/2024 (weekdays) & 20/01/2024 to 21/01/2024 (weekends)29/01/2024 to 02/02/2024 (weekdays) & 03/02/2024 to 04/02/2024 (weekends)12/02/2024 to 16/02/2024 (weekdays) & 17/02/2024 to 18/02/2024 (weekends)26/02/2024 to 01/03/2024 (weekdays) & 02/03/2024 to 03/03/2024 (weekends)
It seems Black Sky are planning their next (suborbital) launch campaign early next year by requesting Airservices implement a number of Temporary Restricted Areas (TRAs) and one Temporary Danger Area (TDA) up to 45,000ft in close proximity to Funny Farm:
Quote from: CameronD on 12/14/2023 12:14 amIt seems Black Sky are planning their next (suborbital) launch campaign early next year by requesting Airservices implement a number of Temporary Restricted Areas (TRAs) and one Temporary Danger Area (TDA) up to 45,000ft in close proximity to Funny Farm:It's official! Here's a link to the AIP Supplement, just released, establishing new Temporary Danger Areas to allow Black Sky to provide both engine test and regular launch operations from Funny Farm:https://www.airservicesaustralia.com/aip/current/sup/s24-h42.pdf
