Woomera Launch Area 5
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 Interactive map of Launch Area 5 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Launch site | Woomera | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Coordinates | 30°58′23″S 136°28′32″E / 30.97306°S 136.47556°E | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Short name | LA-5 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Operator | RAAF | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Total launches | 26 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Launch pad | 3 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Orbital inclination range | 82–90° | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Launch Area 5 (LA5) is an operational site at the RAAF Woomera Test Range, forming part of the Woomera Range Complex.[1][2]
Originally, LA5 functioned as a rocket launch site supporting a number of British experimental launches, including the United Kingdom's first—and as of 2023[update] only—satellite launch. The site consisted of three separate launch pads, which supported 22 Black Knight sounding rocket launches,[3][4] and four Black Arrow carrier rocket launches.[4]
Of the four Black Arrow launches, two were orbital. The first, on 2 September 1970, failed, while the second, on 28 October 1971, succeeded, placing the Prospero satellite into low Earth orbit.[5]
