The lack of launch vehicle customers may force Equatorial Launch Australia to mothball its Arnhem Space Centre for at least two years as NASA is unlikely to return to the launch facility before 2025.

“We are in discussions with many parties from around the world to try to secure the spaceport’s next launch,” ELA executive chairman Michael Jones told the ABC, but did not mention which space firm might be interested in launching from the Territory.

“NASA has indicated a keenness to return, however, it will be based on scientific requirements and as such we think it is likely to return in 2025-26,” Mr Jones said.

ELA hopes to launch another rocket from the space centre in the second half of this year, but that is largely “dependent on the launch vehicle customer and the application permit process”, Mr Jones said.

The Arnhem Space Centre’s launch market was earlier touted by the NT Government to be worth up to US$930 million over the next 10 years. The government has invested at least $5 million into the program.

Despite the investment, ELA announced last September it was opening its headquarters in Adelaide, which it said would create up to 40 jobs there over the next three years and attract “talent to South Australia”.

Business operators in Gove reported a massive spike in business while ELA and NASA representatives were in the region for the launches in June and July.

Despite slim chances of having any launches this year, Deputy Chief Minister Nicole Manison maintained that “2023 should see more rocket launches from the Arnhem Space Centre to continue the accelerated growth of the NT space industry and create job opportunities and economic growth for the region”.

Mr Jones said that it is still plausible that ELA could facilitate an orbital launch this year, saying that the majority of potential customers were looking to undertake orbital launches—rockets that don’t come back to earth after they’re launched.

“Effectively there is no difference to people on the ground, albeit orbital launches tend to ascend slower than sounding rockets but both can be viewed from several kilometres away,” Mr Jones told the ABC.

“The main difference between orbital and sub-orbital launches is that the payloads and later stages of orbital rockets stay in space whereas sub-orbital rockets have elements that come back to earth and don’t stay in orbit.”

ELA’s latest launch ambitions come as it faces a lawsuit for unfair dismissal by its former chief executive, Carley Scott. Ms Scott has also made a series of bullying allegations against Mr Jones, which he refutes. The company has countersued Ms Scott and Mr Jones said ELA was considering further legal action.

Last year, three ‘sub-orbital’ NASA rockets were launched by ELA from its Arnhem Space Centre.