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| Nasa launches first rocket from Australian commercial spaceport | Nasa launches first rocket from Australian commercial spaceport |
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| This video can not be played | This video can not be played |
| To play this video you need to enable JavaScript in your browser. | To play this video you need to enable JavaScript in your browser. |
| Watch Nasa’s ‘historic’ launch from outback Australia | Watch Nasa’s ‘historic’ launch from outback Australia |
| An unassuming patch of red dirt in remote Australia has made history as the site of Nasa's first rocket launch from a commercial spaceport outside the US. | An unassuming patch of red dirt in remote Australia has made history as the site of Nasa's first rocket launch from a commercial spaceport outside the US. |
| The sub-orbital rocket blasted off from the tiny site early on Monday local time. | The sub-orbital rocket blasted off from the tiny site early on Monday local time. |
| It will enable astrophysics studies that can only be undertaken in the Southern Hemisphere, Nasa says. | It will enable astrophysics studies that can only be undertaken in the Southern Hemisphere, Nasa says. |
| The launch was also the first in Australia in more than 25 years. | The launch was also the first in Australia in more than 25 years. |
| The rocket is Nasa's first of three to blast off from the newly constructed Arnhem Space Centre on the edge of the Northern Territory. | The rocket is Nasa's first of three to blast off from the newly constructed Arnhem Space Centre on the edge of the Northern Territory. |
| Scientists hope it will help them study the impact of a star's light on the habitability of nearby planets. | Scientists hope it will help them study the impact of a star's light on the habitability of nearby planets. |
| Onlookers who travelled to the remote site glimpsed the rocket for only about 10 seconds before it shot out of view. | Onlookers who travelled to the remote site glimpsed the rocket for only about 10 seconds before it shot out of view. |
| "It was in the blink of an eye, but to me, it was like it was in slow motion because the whole area just lit up," Yirrkala School co-principal Merrkiyawuy Ganambarr-Stubbs told the Australian Broadcasting Corporation. | "It was in the blink of an eye, but to me, it was like it was in slow motion because the whole area just lit up," Yirrkala School co-principal Merrkiyawuy Ganambarr-Stubbs told the Australian Broadcasting Corporation. |
| "It went up, and then the sound, it was just like a rumbling boom, like nothing I've ever heard. And I just shook with amazement." | "It went up, and then the sound, it was just like a rumbling boom, like nothing I've ever heard. And I just shook with amazement." |
| The sounding rocket's tenure in space was similarly short - the 13m-long projectile fell back to Earth after a planned 15 minutes. | The sounding rocket's tenure in space was similarly short - the 13m-long projectile fell back to Earth after a planned 15 minutes. |
| But the data gathered by the mission's X-ray camera in that time will help illuminate the secrets of Alpha Centauri A and B, the closest double-star system to Earth that is located just 4.3 light-years away. | |
| Northern Territory Chief Minister Natasha Fyles hailed the launch as an "extremely proud" moment for Australia, adding it was conducted with the blessing of the region's Aboriginal traditional owners. | Northern Territory Chief Minister Natasha Fyles hailed the launch as an "extremely proud" moment for Australia, adding it was conducted with the blessing of the region's Aboriginal traditional owners. |
| "Here on Yolngu land, young Territorians can look up at the sky and know what can be done," Ms Fyles said. | "Here on Yolngu land, young Territorians can look up at the sky and know what can be done," Ms Fyles said. |
| "When we see the oldest living culture combining with the science of space, as we have here, it's something we can all reflect on and be very proud." | "When we see the oldest living culture combining with the science of space, as we have here, it's something we can all reflect on and be very proud." |
| Nasa consulted with Aboriginal custodians of the land before the launch | Nasa consulted with Aboriginal custodians of the land before the launch |
| Australia has stepped up its space efforts in recent times, unveiling a defence agency focused on countering Russia and China's ambitions in space. | Australia has stepped up its space efforts in recent times, unveiling a defence agency focused on countering Russia and China's ambitions in space. |
| The Arnhem Space Centre is the first and only commercially owned and run equatorial launch site in the world. | The Arnhem Space Centre is the first and only commercially owned and run equatorial launch site in the world. |
| "We have achieved a remarkable feat and made a huge mark in the history of Australia's journey in space," Mr Jones said in a statement. | "We have achieved a remarkable feat and made a huge mark in the history of Australia's journey in space," Mr Jones said in a statement. |
| "[It] confirms that we and Australia can provide access to space and this is just the beginning for us." | "[It] confirms that we and Australia can provide access to space and this is just the beginning for us." |
| The next launch is expected to take place on 4 July. | The next launch is expected to take place on 4 July. |
| Nasa has pledged to collect all material and debris and return them to the US. | Nasa has pledged to collect all material and debris and return them to the US. |