NASA Creates History: Launches First Commercial Rocket from Australian Space Centre

NASA creates a milestone by successfully launching first commercial rocket from the Northern Territory to study structure and evolution of the cosmos.

NASA has created a milestone by successfully launching a rocket from the Northern Territory, which is said to be the first-ever commercial space launch in Australia's history. Though NASA aborted the countdown several times due to troublesome winds, the first of three scheduled rockets was launched Monday from the Arnhem Space Centre on the Dhupuma Plateau, near Nhulunbuy.

It is NASA's first launch from a commercial spaceport outside the US. This launch will help scientists and researchers to study how a star's light can influence a planet's habitability. The space agency has stated that the rocket is carrying an X-ray quantum calorimeter, which will allow University of Michigan scientists to measure and calculate interstellar X-rays with precision and deliver new data on the structure and evolution of the cosmos.

It is reported that around 75 NASA personnel were in Arnhem Land for the launch, the agency's first in Australia in 27 years. The space agency will launch the other two rockets from Arnhem Space Centre on 4 and 12 July. These rockets will be carrying probes to measure ultraviolet light and the structure of stars.