Australia’s First Orbital-Class Rocket Stalls Seconds After Liftoff
In a significant development in Australia’s space industry, Gilmour Space’s Eris rocket experienced engine failures just 14 seconds into its maiden test flight from Bowen Orbital Spaceport in Queensland. Despite the setback, the company has expressed optimism about the future of their orbital launch vehicle.
The 82-foot-tall (25-meter) Eris rocket ignited its four main engines and lifted off at 8:35 am local time on Wednesday, marking a major milestone for Australia’s private space sector. However, the rocket lost power from two of its engines and stalled just above the launch pad before crashing into a nearby field.
Gilmour Space, the company behind the Eris rocket, confirmed that there were no injuries or significant environmental damage resulting from the incident. The launch site also appeared to be undamaged.
A Long-Held Ambition
The development of an orbital-class launcher by Gilmour Space has been years in the making. Founded by Adam Gilmour and his brother James in 2012, the company raised approximately $90 million from venture capital firms to support their efforts.
Gilmour’s team of over 200 employees designed and developed the bulk of the Eris rocket, including its engines, structures, avionics, software, and spaceport. While most of the engineers are new to the space industry, a handful of veterans from other rocket companies have joined the team.
The Importance of Regulatory Approval
Gilmour has hinted that the long wait for regulatory approval from the Australian government may have contributed to the outcome of the test flight. The company rolled the Eris rocket to the launch pad in April 2024 but had to wait 18 months for the go-ahead from Australia’s Civil Aviation Safety Authority and the Australian Space Agency.
"We had to wait 18 months to get the regulatory approval to launch with the rocket finished," Gilmour said. "When it wasn’t on the launch pad for testing, the rocket was stored horizontally inside a hangar about a mile from the beach, at risk of corrosive damage from salt air."
A New Era in Australian Space
The Eris rocket is designed to place payloads of up to 670 pounds (305 kilograms) into low-Earth orbit. Gilmour’s company has expressed confidence in their ability to offer low-cost, responsive launch services for small satellites globally.
Enrico Palermo, head of the Australian Space Agency, congratulated Gilmour on the achievement, acknowledging that reaching orbit is a rare feat for first launches. "We look forward to the next phases of the test program," he said.
A Lesson Learned
Gilmour has emphasized the importance of understanding what went wrong with the Eris rocket’s maiden flight. The company will conduct further investigations and tests to determine the cause of the engine failures.
"Why did the engines fail? We have to figure that out. We don’t know," Gilmour said. "It’s a little bit unusual they failed so early, but again, those engines have been on that rocket for more than 18 months, and you can’t test them."
A Bright Future Ahead
Despite the setback, Gilmour is optimistic about the future of their orbital launch vehicle. The company has received funding from the Australian government to support the development of a liquid-fueled engine for the Eris rocket’s second stage.
"There’s a new minister that’s in charge of space, among other things, and he’s already texted me today and said congratulations," Gilmour said. "So it looks like we’re turning a new leaf, and things are looking good again."
The Next Step
Gilmour’s team is working on the second Eris rocket, which is currently in production at the company’s headquarters in Gold Coast, Queensland. The structure of the next rocket is complete, but engineers waited to build the engines until they saw how the first rocket performed.
"I’m glad [we did that] because they failed," Gilmour said. "So, I’m going to be doing a few more engine tests before I chuck more into the rocket."
Gilmour estimates that it will take another six months to finish the build and then another month or so for testing. The company aims to launch the second Eris rocket in January or February next year.
Conclusion
The maiden test flight of Gilmour Space’s Eris rocket may have been a setback, but it marks an important milestone in Australia’s space industry. As the country continues to develop its capabilities in space exploration and technology, there is much to look forward to in this exciting new era.