From Orbit to Outback: A Blueprint for the US-Australia Re-entry Corridor

The AUKUS partnership and the Technology Safeguards Agreement between Australia and the United States offer a critical opportunity for US space startups to conduct reentry operations in Australia, but duplicative licensing processes remain the main bottleneck to scale. This report outlines both near-term fixes – such as harmonizing flight safety tools and granting Australia Safety Element Approval – and long-term reforms, including full licensing reciprocity and expanded U.S. reentry capacity. Together, these measures would unlock faster, more reliable reentry, strengthen AUKUS, and secure U.S. leadership in the emerging space economy.