rflogo   random facts.com.au








































Photo: Blue Streak Launch (possibly 1964) at Lake Hart, Woomera, South Australia
Woomera Rocket Range
Randomfacts is a very new website (I will add more facts when I can).
Enquiries to enquiries@randomfacts.com.au
The best source of information about the historic rocket programs at Woomera (that I have found) is a .pdf document titled 'Fire Across the Desert' produced by the Defence Science & Technology Organisation . This 600 page document is an extensive account of the Joint Anglo Australian Project that led to establishment of the township Woomera and the missile testing range that helped shape our defence and contributed significantly to space exploration. This document loaded with facts but it takes a while to read.
DSTO Report "Fire Across the Desert" .pdf
Major Satellite Launchers & Experimental Missiles

Black Knight - Experimental ballistic missile, 1958-1965
Black Arrow - British satellite launcher, placed Prospero into orbit in 1971.
Blue Streak - Initially a ballistic missile, later the first stage for Europa
Europa - ELDO project, largest rockets launched at Woomera, 1964-1970
USA Redstone Sparta Program
WRESAT - Australia's first satellite, 1967
Aero High - Altitude Sounding Rocket
Aerobee

Picture: Blue Streak (Europa First Stage)
Sounding Rockets (Upper Atmosphere Research)

Skylark - British sounding rocket, 266+ launches 1957–1979
Long Tom - First Australian-developed sounding rocket, 1957
HAD - Australian High Altitude Density rocket
HAT - High Altitude Temperature rocket
Lorikeet - Used Australian Dorado motor
Cockatoo
Stonechat
Rook - First Stage for the Leopard & Jaguar supersonic test vehicles
Jaguar
Black Brant - Cooaborative Canadian & Australian collaboration of Black Brant VB model
Petrel - Supersonic target

Picture: Skylark
Military Missiles & Weapons Systems

Thunderbird Series - Red Shoes, Green Flax, Yellow Temple
Bloodhound - Surface-to-air defense
Blue Steel Missile
Sea Dart
Sea Wolf
Dorado Rocket Motor - Australian made
Project Karinga Test Vehicle
Blindfire Rapier

Picture: Bristol Bloodhound Surface-to-Air Missile
Target Drones & Research Vehicles

Jindivik (Australian-designed pilotless target aircraft)
Meteor (Converted WWII aircraft drone)
Canberra Bomber (Converted to remotely controlled target)

Picture: Jindivik Target Drone
Recent Tests

Ghostbat: Australian designed and made drone
SCIFire HACM: Hypersonic Attack Cruise Missile
GMLRS (To be tested 2026) Guided Multiple Launch Rocket System

Picture: SCIFire HACM