Indigenous elders in the remote South Australian Koonibba Aboriginal Community say a rocket launch will "put their town on the map", and is already providing crucial learning experiences for school students.
Koonibba is a small Indigenous township of around 200 people, but tomorrow numbers will double with up to 250 visitors arriving in the remote town to watch Australia's first private rocket launch.
Two Adelaide-based companies — Southern Launch and DEWC — have paired up to launch the rocket from a test range near the township, in the state's far west.
Excitement in the local community is building ahead of the launch, with local school children painting decorations for the town.
Indigenous elder Wendy Ware has welcomed the event, saying it will "put Koonibba on the map".
'Important for the kids'
Ms Ware said it will also be an important learning opportunity for the town's 30 students.
"It's the first time they'll see things like this," Ms Ware said.
"It's important for the kids so they understand all them things with what's going to happen in the future — so it's really good."
Koonibba Aboriginal School principal Beth Hector said teachers have started implementing lessons about space and the outer atmosphere.
"They'll come back to school and say how they watched the stars at night or that they saw a satellite cross at night," Ms Hector said.
"I think it's opened a bigger world to them and that's what we want for our children."
The principal said the event would also provide context to STEM learning.
"They've done lots in the lead up — they've used 3D printers to make little rockets and they've used air compressors," she said.
"If this is going to be part of our children's future, then that's really important.
"Who doesn't remember the first man landing on the moon?"
