Countdown on for Australian Rocket Launch on Aboriginal Land

Steven Marshall announces that the Koonibba Aboriginal Community will be entering history books when Australia’s first rocket is launched to the edge of space. Photo by Mark Brake/Getty Images

A small rocket is scheduled to blast off from a launch facility in South Australia, marking the nation’s first major foray into space for decades.

Southern Launch has set 11:59 am (CST) on Tuesday to fire off its first TED-01 DART rocket from the Koonibba Test Range.