Gilmour Space Technologies announces successful Eris rocket engine test

A Queensland-based company is getting closer to its goal of launching its first orbital rocket from a site near Bowen this year. Watch the video.

Rocket launches out of Bowen are closer to reality after a Queensland-based company greeted the new year with Australia’s largest ever rocket engine test.

Gold Coast-based Gilmour Space Technologies, which plans to begin launching small rockets from a site near Bowen this year, completed a successful 110-kilonewton test fire of the most powerful rocket engine ever developed in Australia.

The 75-second test was a major milestone for Gilmour Space, which is developing Australian made rockets that will, over the next five years, be capable of launching 300- to 4000-kilogram satellites and payloads into low earth and other orbits.

Gilmour Space has successfully test fired the largest rocket engine ever developed by an Australian-owned enterprise. Picture: Supplied

“What you see here is the main engine that will power the first and second stages of our three-stage Eris rocket to space,” Gilmour Space CEO Adam Gilmour said.

“It was a successful test. We achieved our expected full thrust of 110 kilonewtons (or 25,000 pounds-force) over the 75 seconds, and our team will be moving on to the final engine qualification campaign next month.”

Strategically, the test was a demonstration of Australia’s first sovereign launch capability.

“It is no small thing to say that we’ve developed Australia’s largest rocket engine; and that it could have significant flow-on benefits for the commercial, civil and defence space sectors,” Mr Gilmour said.

At just over 110 kilonewtons (or 25,000 pound-force) of thrust, the test generated enough force to lift four SUVs off the ground — a significant demonstration of space and launch capability by an Australian enterprise. Picture: Supplied

On where and when Eris will be launched, Mr Gilmour said the company was seeking approvals from state and federal government agencies to green light a small orbital spaceport at the Abbot Point State Development Area.

“With timely assessments and approvals from relevant authorities, we hope to be able to launch Australia’s first sovereign-made rocket from Queensland sometime in the latter half of 2022.”