1 00:00:00,160 --> 00:00:03,720 Speaker 1: Well, after a few delayed starts, I guess you'd say overnight, 2 00:00:03,760 --> 00:00:07,240 Speaker 1: we know that NASA has successfully launched its first rocket 3 00:00:07,520 --> 00:00:11,160 Speaker 1: from the Arnham Space Center overnight. The suborbital sounding rocket 4 00:00:11,160 --> 00:00:14,120 Speaker 1: took off just after midnight, making it the first commercial 5 00:00:14,160 --> 00:00:17,880 Speaker 1: space launch in Australia's history and NASA's first rocket launch 6 00:00:18,000 --> 00:00:21,959 Speaker 1: from a commercial spaceport outside of the United States. And 7 00:00:22,000 --> 00:00:24,120 Speaker 1: as I said, we heard a little bit more about 8 00:00:24,120 --> 00:00:27,280 Speaker 1: it earlier and the excitement that was in the air, but. 9 00:00:27,280 --> 00:00:29,640 Speaker 2: What is the feeling in the region at the moment. 10 00:00:30,000 --> 00:00:32,200 Speaker 1: Well, joining me on the line to talk more about 11 00:00:32,200 --> 00:00:34,120 Speaker 1: the launch and how things are going in Null and 12 00:00:34,159 --> 00:00:38,360 Speaker 1: boy more generally in the region is developing. East Arnham 13 00:00:38,640 --> 00:00:42,880 Speaker 1: Limited Tourism Development Officer Riley Heap, Good morning to you, Riley. 14 00:00:43,960 --> 00:00:44,840 Speaker 3: Good morning Katie. 15 00:00:44,880 --> 00:00:46,320 Speaker 2: How you going very well? 16 00:00:46,440 --> 00:00:46,760 Speaker 3: Riley? 17 00:00:46,840 --> 00:00:49,960 Speaker 1: How are you guys going following on from that launch overnight? 18 00:00:51,920 --> 00:00:56,280 Speaker 3: It's just fantastic here in the region. There was a 19 00:00:56,280 --> 00:00:59,960 Speaker 3: buzz in the air last night and it's only signal 20 00:01:00,400 --> 00:01:02,840 Speaker 3: what's here to come for e Starham. 21 00:01:03,200 --> 00:01:04,720 Speaker 2: Yeah, it sounds that way. 22 00:01:04,840 --> 00:01:07,240 Speaker 1: We caught up just a little bit earlier this morning 23 00:01:07,240 --> 00:01:11,840 Speaker 1: and spoke to astrophysicist with the Australian National University, Brad Tucker, 24 00:01:11,880 --> 00:01:14,800 Speaker 1: and he sounded incredibly excited. I know that it was 25 00:01:14,840 --> 00:01:18,800 Speaker 1: delayed a few times overnight but eventually got there. 26 00:01:18,840 --> 00:01:20,880 Speaker 2: It was that weather that was delaying things. 27 00:01:21,480 --> 00:01:24,119 Speaker 1: How are people feeling in Null and Boy right now, 28 00:01:24,160 --> 00:01:27,319 Speaker 1: more generally in the East Stanham region, are they pretty 29 00:01:27,319 --> 00:01:29,040 Speaker 1: excited about the space sector? 30 00:01:30,640 --> 00:01:35,679 Speaker 3: Absolutely? As I said, this launched last night was the 31 00:01:35,720 --> 00:01:40,400 Speaker 3: first of three that's happening this year. But Ela Equatoria 32 00:01:40,480 --> 00:01:43,360 Speaker 3: Watch Australia at the Anham Space Center is hoping to 33 00:01:43,400 --> 00:01:45,959 Speaker 3: gear up to have over fifty rockets launched per year. 34 00:01:46,800 --> 00:01:48,920 Speaker 3: So I think they were saying last night on the 35 00:01:48,960 --> 00:01:54,120 Speaker 3: live stream hopefully won every eight to nine days. So 36 00:01:54,680 --> 00:01:57,760 Speaker 3: while it's while it's a start for Eastanham to have 37 00:01:57,840 --> 00:02:03,480 Speaker 3: the first space launch happening in the region, it's only 38 00:02:05,040 --> 00:02:06,440 Speaker 3: a teaser for what's to come. 39 00:02:07,200 --> 00:02:11,000 Speaker 1: And Riley in the leading was it quite busy around town? 40 00:02:11,280 --> 00:02:13,440 Speaker 1: How are people going trying to get a hotel room 41 00:02:13,520 --> 00:02:14,960 Speaker 1: or was everything quite booked up? 42 00:02:16,040 --> 00:02:19,840 Speaker 3: Everything's booked up. We're booked up across the launch period, 43 00:02:19,880 --> 00:02:22,000 Speaker 3: so we've got launches on the source of July and 44 00:02:22,040 --> 00:02:26,200 Speaker 3: the twelfth completely booked up. I think they had to 45 00:02:26,280 --> 00:02:28,480 Speaker 3: chart a charter a flight in last night with all 46 00:02:28,480 --> 00:02:31,280 Speaker 3: the VIPs and fly them back to tarr And last 47 00:02:31,360 --> 00:02:34,079 Speaker 3: night as well because there was nowhere to put them. 48 00:02:34,240 --> 00:02:37,760 Speaker 3: So really good to the region that all our accommodation 49 00:02:38,600 --> 00:02:41,480 Speaker 3: and camping operators are all booked up, particularly after two 50 00:02:41,560 --> 00:02:45,720 Speaker 3: years of COVID, which has been tough, and we're booked 51 00:02:45,800 --> 00:02:48,600 Speaker 3: up for the next month or two still to come. 52 00:02:48,720 --> 00:02:52,200 Speaker 3: So only up from here. 53 00:02:52,800 --> 00:02:55,160 Speaker 1: Yeah, well, and your spot on after a couple of 54 00:02:55,200 --> 00:02:57,160 Speaker 1: tough years when it comes to COVID, it must be 55 00:02:57,200 --> 00:02:59,560 Speaker 1: wonderful for those operators in the region. 56 00:03:00,560 --> 00:03:00,840 Speaker 3: Riley. 57 00:03:00,840 --> 00:03:03,760 Speaker 1: When we talk more broadly about the economy, how are 58 00:03:03,800 --> 00:03:06,799 Speaker 1: things tracking for you guys, and what do you think? 59 00:03:07,160 --> 00:03:14,080 Speaker 1: You know, the development of this industry is going to Maine. 60 00:03:12,639 --> 00:03:16,160 Speaker 3: The easternham region. We're gearing up the mind closure so 61 00:03:16,280 --> 00:03:20,280 Speaker 3: rio interpreting employer, particularly on the Ghost Peninsula, and I've 62 00:03:20,320 --> 00:03:22,920 Speaker 3: publicly stated over the next five years that they'll be 63 00:03:23,680 --> 00:03:29,520 Speaker 3: detailing their extractive operations on the Ghost Peninsula. So an 64 00:03:29,520 --> 00:03:33,079 Speaker 3: industry like space is giving everyone a lot of hope 65 00:03:33,520 --> 00:03:35,960 Speaker 3: that there are new industries to take over from mining. 66 00:03:36,400 --> 00:03:40,360 Speaker 3: Space is only one of multiple industries that we're looking 67 00:03:40,400 --> 00:03:44,720 Speaker 3: at looking at to replace mining, so we're also looking 68 00:03:44,720 --> 00:03:52,200 Speaker 3: at tourism more broadly, aquacultural activities, forestry activities. There's a 69 00:03:52,200 --> 00:03:54,880 Speaker 3: bunch of different brunch of work happening at the moment 70 00:03:55,520 --> 00:03:59,800 Speaker 3: to create new job prospects to replace mining and space. 71 00:04:01,160 --> 00:04:03,440 Speaker 3: As we've all seen last night, is really putting a 72 00:04:03,480 --> 00:04:07,080 Speaker 3: spotlight on what the opportunities lay ahead very stardom. 73 00:04:07,000 --> 00:04:10,360 Speaker 2: And has the region got everything that it needs at 74 00:04:10,360 --> 00:04:10,800 Speaker 2: this point? 75 00:04:10,800 --> 00:04:12,600 Speaker 1: Do you think, Riley, when you do talk about that 76 00:04:12,720 --> 00:04:15,920 Speaker 1: space industry and or is there going to be some 77 00:04:16,000 --> 00:04:18,799 Speaker 1: additional need for development to keep up with that demand, 78 00:04:18,839 --> 00:04:20,800 Speaker 1: particularly when you talk about accommodation. 79 00:04:22,839 --> 00:04:26,440 Speaker 3: Like any emerging industry, the region will continue to grow 80 00:04:26,560 --> 00:04:31,320 Speaker 3: and apt to take advantage of the opportunities that present 81 00:04:31,400 --> 00:04:37,240 Speaker 3: themselves through something like accommodation is certainly a challenge considering 82 00:04:37,360 --> 00:04:40,240 Speaker 3: that we're booked out, but that's something we're working on 83 00:04:40,279 --> 00:04:44,280 Speaker 3: at the moment. Good Much, who's been a key partner 84 00:04:44,480 --> 00:04:48,120 Speaker 3: in thet and Space Center, has invested heavily in accommodation 85 00:04:48,760 --> 00:04:51,600 Speaker 3: over the past couple of years. We're only going to 86 00:04:51,640 --> 00:04:55,520 Speaker 3: see that progress across the region as tourism grows, as 87 00:04:55,640 --> 00:05:00,920 Speaker 3: the space industry grows and other opportunities to fruition. 88 00:05:01,560 --> 00:05:03,760 Speaker 1: So Riley, all in all, it sounds as though people 89 00:05:03,800 --> 00:05:06,880 Speaker 1: are feeling pretty positive this morning, following on from that 90 00:05:06,960 --> 00:05:08,800 Speaker 1: successful launch last night or. 91 00:05:08,720 --> 00:05:11,000 Speaker 2: In the early hours of this morning, I guess you'd. 92 00:05:10,839 --> 00:05:16,360 Speaker 3: Say absolutely, there was a buzz in the air last night. 93 00:05:16,920 --> 00:05:19,800 Speaker 3: We're all looking forward to launch too in a week 94 00:05:19,880 --> 00:05:23,839 Speaker 3: or two, and we're looking forward to what the future 95 00:05:23,880 --> 00:05:25,120 Speaker 3: holds Riley. 96 00:05:25,200 --> 00:05:26,720 Speaker 1: Did you get to see it or was there much 97 00:05:26,760 --> 00:05:29,160 Speaker 1: that you could sort of see from, you know, from 98 00:05:29,200 --> 00:05:31,720 Speaker 1: where you were, or did you really have to be at, 99 00:05:32,120 --> 00:05:34,839 Speaker 1: you know, at that special platform to be able to 100 00:05:34,839 --> 00:05:35,480 Speaker 1: see anything. 101 00:05:36,839 --> 00:05:41,600 Speaker 3: So I watched the launch from just outside of town. Yeah, 102 00:05:42,440 --> 00:05:45,560 Speaker 3: I think because it was the first launch, everyone was 103 00:05:45,600 --> 00:05:47,720 Speaker 3: trying to take that on where the best place to 104 00:05:47,760 --> 00:05:52,080 Speaker 3: see the rocket was. So where I was situated, you 105 00:05:52,120 --> 00:05:55,560 Speaker 3: could see a flash and all the clouds surrounding the 106 00:05:55,600 --> 00:05:59,599 Speaker 3: Space center litter as the rocket took off and then 107 00:06:01,440 --> 00:06:05,279 Speaker 3: launched into the sky before hiding behind the cloud yeap, 108 00:06:06,320 --> 00:06:09,720 Speaker 3: and then a few seconds after that you could hear 109 00:06:09,760 --> 00:06:12,400 Speaker 3: the rumble and I think I was probably at least 110 00:06:12,440 --> 00:06:15,800 Speaker 3: ten kilometers away. There was reports in the Lomboy It's 111 00:06:15,800 --> 00:06:18,560 Speaker 3: over twenty kilometers away of everyone hearing the sound of 112 00:06:18,640 --> 00:06:21,880 Speaker 3: the rocket. Yeah, she finally imagine how loud it was 113 00:06:22,880 --> 00:06:25,520 Speaker 3: for all those people close to the site. 114 00:06:26,080 --> 00:06:29,240 Speaker 1: Oh what an exciting time, hey, you know, like for 115 00:06:29,279 --> 00:06:31,360 Speaker 1: a place like null and Boy and for the East 116 00:06:31,480 --> 00:06:34,400 Speaker 1: Arnham region, it is such an exciting time. And I 117 00:06:34,400 --> 00:06:37,440 Speaker 1: can only imagine the buzz that was about yesterday and 118 00:06:37,520 --> 00:06:40,120 Speaker 1: even in the days leading into it, as that excitement grew. 119 00:06:40,160 --> 00:06:42,920 Speaker 1: So it must be really great to see things bustling 120 00:06:42,960 --> 00:06:43,839 Speaker 1: at the moment. 121 00:06:45,160 --> 00:06:48,040 Speaker 3: Rockets in hum lands. Who would have thought, exactly here 122 00:06:48,080 --> 00:06:48,320 Speaker 3: we are. 123 00:06:49,120 --> 00:06:51,360 Speaker 2: It's pretty wild, isn't it. If somebody had has said 124 00:06:51,360 --> 00:06:51,919 Speaker 2: it a few. 125 00:06:51,760 --> 00:06:54,360 Speaker 1: Years ago, you'd have thought, hang on a second, are 126 00:06:54,360 --> 00:06:55,240 Speaker 1: they having me on? 127 00:06:55,560 --> 00:06:56,960 Speaker 2: I don't know if that's going to happen. 128 00:06:57,000 --> 00:07:02,560 Speaker 1: So it is amazing stuff, amazing to say, absolutely, And. 129 00:07:02,839 --> 00:07:06,440 Speaker 3: As I said, it's only just the stuff we're hoping 130 00:07:06,520 --> 00:07:10,000 Speaker 3: for over the next few years as Equatoria Launch Australia 131 00:07:10,560 --> 00:07:13,000 Speaker 3: signs on new commercial partners, that we will have more 132 00:07:13,040 --> 00:07:16,680 Speaker 3: and more rocket paunches every year and from there we 133 00:07:17,320 --> 00:07:20,920 Speaker 3: can continue to grow those opportunities. I'm creating new period 134 00:07:20,920 --> 00:07:23,880 Speaker 3: and experiences from that. Yeah, people can come up to 135 00:07:23,960 --> 00:07:27,160 Speaker 3: Milan boy come up to Arnham Land, have amazing cultural 136 00:07:27,200 --> 00:07:29,280 Speaker 3: experiences while they're here and see. 137 00:07:29,080 --> 00:07:32,200 Speaker 1: A rocket absolutely well, even as we'd heard a little 138 00:07:32,200 --> 00:07:35,680 Speaker 1: bit earlier this morning with the astrophysicists talking about you 139 00:07:35,680 --> 00:07:38,480 Speaker 1: know it could it be possible that in school holidays 140 00:07:38,520 --> 00:07:40,920 Speaker 1: to come, you know that kids are heading out to 141 00:07:41,040 --> 00:07:44,400 Speaker 1: the likes of will to Arnham Land to be able 142 00:07:44,440 --> 00:07:46,960 Speaker 1: to watch those rockets launched and what would that mean 143 00:07:47,000 --> 00:07:47,640 Speaker 1: for tourism. 144 00:07:47,640 --> 00:07:49,000 Speaker 2: It'd be massive, wouldn't it. 145 00:07:50,240 --> 00:07:53,240 Speaker 3: Absolutely And we've got some lucky school kids here at 146 00:07:53,240 --> 00:07:57,320 Speaker 3: the moment from New South Wales that have just happened 147 00:07:57,320 --> 00:07:59,760 Speaker 3: to be in the region while the first rocket launch 148 00:07:59,800 --> 00:08:03,560 Speaker 3: is taken off and they were camping quite close to 149 00:08:03,560 --> 00:08:07,760 Speaker 3: the launch right actually a good cola and so it's 150 00:08:09,840 --> 00:08:13,080 Speaker 3: for those school kids. It was a late night, they'd 151 00:08:13,160 --> 00:08:15,280 Speaker 3: flown up from Sydney, I think at six am that 152 00:08:15,360 --> 00:08:19,920 Speaker 3: morning and then city camping right next to the rockets 153 00:08:20,240 --> 00:08:23,200 Speaker 3: was just an incredible experience for them. But we see 154 00:08:23,200 --> 00:08:27,240 Speaker 3: the future where students from across the country, potentially across 155 00:08:27,240 --> 00:08:29,960 Speaker 3: the world can come to Arnum Land not only to 156 00:08:30,120 --> 00:08:36,040 Speaker 3: engage in those STEM learnings, the science, technology, engineering and mathematics, 157 00:08:36,120 --> 00:08:38,480 Speaker 3: learnings of the rockets and the Art and Space Center 158 00:08:38,679 --> 00:08:41,360 Speaker 3: brings to the region, but also to pair that with 159 00:08:42,280 --> 00:08:46,960 Speaker 3: the urmal culture here as well, and the traditional teachings 160 00:08:47,000 --> 00:08:51,040 Speaker 3: that the UILL have around the stars, around country and 161 00:08:51,120 --> 00:08:53,600 Speaker 3: around the land as well. So we see that there's 162 00:08:53,600 --> 00:08:56,640 Speaker 3: a really big opportunity for people to both pair the 163 00:08:56,720 --> 00:09:01,079 Speaker 3: ancient with the contemporary to learn more about this country. 164 00:09:01,240 --> 00:09:05,000 Speaker 1: What a wonderful opportunity it could be. Riley, We really 165 00:09:05,000 --> 00:09:07,679 Speaker 1: appreciate your time this morning. Thanks so much for joining 166 00:09:07,720 --> 00:09:08,360 Speaker 1: us on the show. 167 00:09:09,520 --> 00:09:10,839 Speaker 3: Not a problem, thanks, thank you.