Australia is on the cusp of a major space milestone, as Gilmour Space Technologies gears up to launch the first Australian-made rocket into orbit from Australian soil.
The mission, Eris TestFlight 1, will lift off from the Bowen Orbital Spaceport in North Queensland – marking a historic leap for the nation’s sovereign space capability, the company said in a LinkedIn post.
This will be the first attempt by an Australian-built rocket to reach orbit and the first orbital launch from Australian territory in more than half a century.
Gilmour Space’s 23-metre, three-stage Eris rocket, featuring proprietary hybrid propulsion technology, is designed to carry payloads of up to 300 kilograms into low Earth orbit.
At 34 tonnes at liftoff, Eris symbolises Australia’s growing capabilities in space launch systems, engineering, and advanced manufacturing.
The Australian Space Agency has granted full launch approval following a successful Launch Readiness Review (LRR) – the final hurdle confirming that all rocket, payload, ground systems, and mission teams are go for launch.
On 15 May, Gilmour’s team identified a ground support system issue, placing the mission in an extended hold. Engineers are currently resolving the problem, with the next available window targeted for Friday morning.
Staff from the Australian Space Agency’s Office of the Space Regulator are on-site in Bowen to support the mission alongside the Gilmour team.
The launch of TestFlight 1 represents years of development, testing, and precision engineering – most of it conducted in Queensland.
To stay updated on the launch, follow Gilmour Space Technologies.
