Cape York International Spaceport

The Cape York International Spaceport was an abandoned 20th century proposal to build the world's first commercial spaceport in Australia's Cape York Peninsula.[1][2] The plan was announced in 1986 by then-Queensland Premier Joh Bjelke-Petersen, who confiscated Indigenous Australian land in Far North Queensland for the spaceport's construction.[3] The location was chosen due to its proximity to the Equator, which would allow easier and cheaper space launches.[3] Following legal challenges from local indigenous groups whose land had been taken for the project, increased federal environmental standards and a lack of financial support from the private sector, the project was abandoned in 1992.[2][4]

Map of the Cape York Peninsula in Australia's Far North Queensland, where the spaceport was proposed to be built.

Later developments

In 2017 Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk returned the 160,730 hectares of Cape York land, known as Bromley, to its Wuthathi, Kuuku Ya'u and Northern Kaantju traditional owners.[3][4]

Following the establishment of the Australian Space Agency and increasing interest from governments around Australia in the space industry, in 2018 the Queensland Government began a feasibility study to consider suitable locations for a satellite launch facility.[5] The assessment criteria balance considerations of airspace, operations, environment and cultural matters (including local Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander views).[6]

In 2018 Cook Shire mayor Peter Scott recommended the nearby town of Weipa to build a spaceport due to its sea port, population size and proximity to RAAF Base Scherger.[7]

By 2020, the Queensland Government announced it would investigate the suitability of Abbot Point as an alternative orbital launch site.[8] The Opposition Liberal National Party unveiled alternative proposals for a facility in Bowen before the 2020 Queensland state election,[9] which it lost.

References
  1. Reizner, Christine (13 May 2016). "Cape York Space Station would've been out of this world". Tropic Now - Cairns News. Retrieved 23 October 2020.
  2. "Whatever happened to the Cape York Spaceport?". John Oxley Library. State Library of Queensland. 21 October 2013. Retrieved 23 October 2020.
  3. Caldwell, Felicity (21 June 2019). "Queensland, we have a problem with launch sites for the space race". Brisbane Times. Nine Newspapers. Retrieved 23 October 2020.
  4. Robertson, Joshua (17 May 2017). "Indigenous owners who defeated Cape York spaceport given back lands after 150 years". The Guardian. Retrieved 23 October 2020.
  5. Caldwell, Felicity (15 October 2018). "Queensland investigates potential rocket launch sites". Brisbane Times. Retrieved 21 November 2020.
  6. Caldwell, Felicity (21 June 2019). "Queensland, we have a problem with launch sites for the space race". Brisbane Times. Retrieved 21 November 2020.
  7. Horn, Allyson (5 September 2018). "Rockets could launch from Queensland as push to become space hub takes off". ABC News. Australian Broadcasting Corporation. Retrieved 23 October 2020.
  8. Lynch, Lydia (28 July 2020). "Queensland plans 2022 liftoff for Whitsundays launch pad". Brisbane Times. Retrieved 21 November 2020.
  9. "Second rocket launch site proposed for Queensland". InDaily. Australian Associated Press. 6 October 2020. Retrieved 21 November 2020.

See also
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