Science and Tech

NASA launches first rocket from Australian commercial spaceport

Published on 29 Jun 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.
Source: SarkariPariksha