Eris Rocket Maiden Flight Has Been Approved For Gilmour Space

The Australian launch vehicle startup Gilmour Space Technologies obtained the country’s first orbital launch permit for its maiden Eris rocket launch from the Bowen Orbital Spaceport in North Queensland.

The company announced on November 5th, 2024, that the Minister for Industry and Science, Ed Husic MP, and the Australian Space Agency have granted them the license to perform the Eris TestFlight1.

The preparations

Under the Space (Launches & Returns) Act 2018, an Australian launch permit is required to launch an object from Australia to an altitude of over 100 kilometers. This permit comes with many conditions that must be met before launch and a mandatory 30-day notification period. The company stated that the earliest launch attempt could be in early December or mid-January.

The company started preparations for the launch in March, as they received a permit for the Bowen Spaceport, aiming to launch in early May. However, the licensing process faced delays, which weren’t solved until now. 

On September 30, 2024, Gilmour Space completed a major wet dress rehearsal at the Bowen Orbital Spaceport. The launch vehicle’s three stages successfully underwent fluid and high-pressure gas fills. Onboard autonomous tank pressure management systems were verified and all 16 vernier thrusters tested.

Ground systems, including propellant storage, filling, and de-tanking, performed as expected. Radiofrequency communications with the vehicle were successfully tested. Range operations were conducted remotely from the Launch Control Centre. Temporary Restricted Areas were activated in the airspace while maintaining ground exclusion zones. To ensure team readiness and system reliability, 24/7 operational cycles were completed.

Only minor issues were identified: two faulty valves and some software reconfigurations. They are expected to be easily fixed before the first flight of the small launcher.

This represents a major milestone for the Australian space industry. Gilmour Space CEO and co-founder, Adam Gilmour, stated:  “With this green light, we will soon attempt the first orbital test flight of an Australian-made rocket from Australian soil”.

Eris Rocket and Bowen Orbital Spaceport

Eris Block 1 is a 25m tall, 3-staged small lift launcher, which will be capable of delivering up to 305kg to LEO.  The first stage is powered by four Gilmour’s Sirius hybrid rocket motors and the second stage is propelled by one. The third stage is equipped with a new Phoenix liquid rocket engine.

The Bowen Orbital Spaceport, developed and operated by Gilmour Space Technologies, received an orbital launch facility license under Australia’s Space Act 2018 on 5 March 2024. This facility provides commercial orbital launch services, including satellite platforms and both dedicated and rideshare launches to Low Earth Orbit. Supported by grant funding from the Australian Government’s Modern Manufacturing Strategy, the spaceport is co-funded by the Queensland Government and Gilmour Space.

Leading Australia’s space sector

Since launching its rocket program in 2015, Gilmour Space has grown to over 200 employees. It also developed a robust local supply chain involving over 300 Australian companies.

Its Bowen spaceport in north Queensland will initially support launches to low- and mid-inclination orbits. With rockets and satellites engineered on the Gold Coast and launched from Bowen, Gilmour’s activities have significantly boosted the regional economy. The company raised $36.5 million in a Series D round in February, reaching a total of $93 million in funding to date.