Gilmour Space Technologies Eris rocket launch in Bowen delayed

Australia’s first ever home built rocket has been stalled for its inaugural launch for a second day, here’s why.

Gilmour Space Technologies Eris rocket launch window has been delayed by 24 hours after the team identified an issue in the ground support system. Image: Supplied

The first ever Australian-built rocket was planned to launch out of Bowen this week but ground support system issues on Thursday and a pre launch anomaly on Friday have put plans on hold.

Despite Gilmour Space Technologies being optimistic for the launch of its Eris rocket, they have announced the launch would be delayed by at least a few weeks.

Gilmour Space Technologies said the launch was postponed so they could “fully understand what happened” and make updates if required.

“During final launch preparations last night (Thursday) an unexpected issue accidentally triggered the system that opens the rocket’s nose cone (the payload fairing).” they said.
No one was injured in the incident and early checks show no damage to the rocket or the launch pad.

“While we’re disappointed by the delay, our team is already working on a solution and we expect to be back at the pad soon.” they said.

The company assured everyone their Vegemite payload was safe and sound.

CEO of Gilmour Space, Adam Gilmour said the team encountered the issue before fuelling and liftoff, which was exactly what the ground testing was meant to do.

“The good news is our team and rocket are both fine. While we’re disappointed by the delay, we’re already working through a resolution and expect to be back on the pad soon,” he said.

The rocket had been safely returned to the Vehicle Assembly Building said Mr Gilmour, and the team had already started analysing the data to find the cause of the electrical fault.

Gilmour Space Technologies will announce a new target launch window once confirmed.

“This is all part of the journey,” said Mr Gilmour.

“Everyone is safe, and I want to thank the community in Bowen for your ongoing support — your welcome and warmth mean a lot to our team.”

Gilmour Space Technologies warned that a range of things could impact whether or not a launch goes ahead. Image: Supplied

The news comes after the company announced on Thursday there would be “no launch today” and they were now in an extended hold while they worked through a ground support system issue.

Marketing and communications manager at Gilmour Space Technologies, Michelle Gilmour, said while the issue was fixed, there was not enough time to launch on Thursday.

“The issue was with an external power system we use during system checks,” she said.

“We’ve identified the fix, but ran out of time to implement it and fuel the rocket”

Mrs Gilmour previously warned there was no guarantee the unmanned rocket would even achieve lift off during its maiden test run and there were a range of factors that would play a role.

“It could be an all-day affair, it could be a five day affair. It could be a two week affair,” Ms Gilmour said.

“We don’t know, it’s the first vehicle of its type.”

Mrs Gilmour said because of the unpredictable nature of first maiden runs spectators were not encouraged for TestFlight1.

“Rocket tech is really hard … it’s been done by so few nations and the technology itself is confidential, a secret,” she said.

“So we’ve basically developed almost every system that’s on the rocket ourselves.

“That kind of propulsion system is not easy to develop. We have a hybrid rocket engine, which is a new kind of rocket engine … so it’s already a different rocket technology that we’ll be testing.”

Mrs Gilmour said it was very common for first launches not to be immediately successful.

James and Adam Gilmour, the co-founders of Queensland start-up Gilmour Space

“So SpaceX, who is like leading the market today, they made it on their fourth launch attempt. And same with Rocket Lab. And every almost every other rocket company in the world, the first launch is not very unlikely to get to orbit,” she said.

Eris TestFlight1 would be the first Australian-made rocket capable of going into orbit and carry satellites, and the country’s first orbital launch in more than 50 years.

Mrs Gilmour said there were only about six or seven other countries launching their own rockets “so we should be one of only a very few number of nations that are capable or getting our own satellites to space”.

“There’s a huge shortage of launch vehicles all around the world … even though you hear a lot of news on SpaceX and Rocket Lab launching every other day, the reality is that there are two year long wait lists for launching satellites to space. And there’s just not enough rockets,” she said.

Gilmour Space Technologies crew including Michelle Gilmour at the front. Picture: Supplied by Gilmour Space Technologies

The launch has been a long time coming, already pushed back from 2022 with design and development beginning six years go said Mrs Gilmour.

Once Eris was successfully launched into orbit Mrs Gilmour said the possibilities for Australia’s space industry and Bowen’s tourism industry were endless with them already in talks about tourists being able to watch a rocket launch from a Bowen beach within a year or two.

If a successful launch does take place Mrs Gilmour said it could be seen from various Bowen locations including Coral, Grays and Queens Beaches, Lions and Ethel Barker Parks, Yasso Point, Watertank Murals and Flagstaff Hill.