SPACE INDEX COMPANIES INSIGHTS SECTORS PRODUCTS NEWS BLOG ANSWERS RESEARCH ABOUT FOR COMPANIES BUILD / 2026.06.04
Southern Launch logo Southern Launch Operates two spaceports in South Australia providing orbital launch, suborbital testing, orbital re-entry, and range services for domestic and international customers vs Virgin Galactic Develops suborbital spaceplanes for commercial human spaceflight, carrying private astronauts and research payloads to the edge of space Virgin Galactic logo
HEAD-TO-HEAD1 shared sector
Southern Launch Virgin Galactic
Founded 2017 2004
Headquarters Adelaide, Australia Tustin, California
Type private public
Status operating operating
Employees 30 620
Total funding $12M
Latest round Venture
Sectors Spaceports & Range Services, Launch Services, Suborbital & High-Altitude Space Tourism & Experience, Suborbital & High-Altitude
Products listed 8 2
Federal contracts
Launches 68 (91%)
Leaders listed Lloyd Damp, Rebecca Darcey, Tori Murray Michael Colglazier, Doug Ahrens, Mike Moses
News mentions 6 1
SHARED SECTORS
FREQUENTLY ASKED

How do Southern Launch and Virgin Galactic compare?

Both companies work in Suborbital & High-Altitude. Southern Launch was founded in 2017 and Virgin Galactic in 2004.

Which is larger, Southern Launch or Virgin Galactic?

Virgin Galactic reports the larger workforce, with 620 employees versus 30.

Which has more launches, Southern Launch or Virgin Galactic?

Virgin Galactic leads with 68 tracked launches (91% success rate).

Numbers refresh on every render against the live Space Index database. Federal contract data from USAspending.gov; launches from LaunchLibrary2.