🇦🇺Woomera Test Range
Woomera, South Australia, Australia
Country
🇦🇺 Australia
Region
Oceania
Established
1947
Launches / Year
5-10
Coordinates
-31.1000° S, 136.8000° E
About
Woomera Test Range is one of the largest weapons testing and rocket launch ranges in the world, covering 122,000 square kilometers of South Australian desert. Established in 1947 as a joint UK-Australian facility, it was the site of the only successful British orbital launch (Black Arrow / Prospero in 1971). It remains active for missile testing and suborbital research.
Key Features
One of the world's largest military testing ranges at 122,000 sq km
Site of the only British orbital launch — Black Arrow / Prospero (1971)
Operational since 1947 as a joint UK-Australian rocket testing facility
Active for missile testing, hypersonic research, and sounding rockets
Historic launches include Europa rockets and Blue Streak missiles
Rockets That Launch Here
Companies Operating Here
Orbit Types
Notable Launches
Black Arrow / Prospero (1971) — UK's only successful orbital satellite launch
Europa I and II rocket tests for ELDO (1960s)
Blue Streak ballistic missile tests (1960s)
Numerous sounding rocket campaigns for atmospheric research
HiFiRE hypersonic flight experiments (2000s-2010s)