Australia plans to enter the commercial space launch business in 2003. They will use a launch site on Christmas Island, which (at 10 degrees south latitude) is close enough to the equator to gain a bonus in liftoff weight due to the Earth's rotation. Australia owns Christmas Island, and had blocked others interested in space launches from this island due to environmental concerns. The Australian consortium plans to use a Russian booster but has not announced which type or types. It plans to offer both low Earth orbit and geosynchronous launch services. --Stephen V Cole