abc.net.au/news/space-catapault-plan-for-wa-southern-goldfields/102772284The Goldfields town of Norseman is known as the gateway to the Nullarbor, but it could become a gateway to the stars if plans to build a slingshot to catapult rockets into space goes ahead.
"You either want to launch as close to the equator as possible, which is why groups are up there, or as far south as possible," he said. It said there were several locations in Australia that met the criteria but declined to comment further. But as the number of satellites being sent into orbit continues to rise, more private companies have entered the market to meet the demand.Dr Tucker said with land that met the specific requirements needed to support a launch site in short supply, Australia was a "burgeoning market"."If you have fairly dry seasons, and stable winds and things like that, that makes for a good launch.
"When Cape Canaveral was built, where Kennedy Space Center is, they built it in an empty swamp because it was a swamp and no-one wanted it," he said.