Australian company Gilmour Space receives country's first orbital launch license

Australia is poised to be the next country to take a giant leap into orbit.

Australia-based Gilmour Space company received the country’s first orbital launch It received its license this week as it prepares for the first test flight of the Eris rocket.

A specific launch date is expected within the next few weeks, according to Gilmour Space Press releasewith liftoff from the company’s Bowen Orbital Spaceport in northern Queensland.

Gilmour Space opened its doors in 2015 and has since grown to over 200 employees. The company is based on Queensland’s Gold Coast. spaceport and created its own Australian supply chain network of more than 300 companies, launching the vehicle almost entirely from domestic sources.

Relating to: Rocket Lab launches mystery mission at company’s 12th launch in 2024 (video)

“Success here isn’t just about reaching orbit,” Whitsunday Regional Council Mayor Ry Collins said in the statement. “This is about positioning Bowen as a key player in Australia’s space journey. This is just the beginning.”

Collins’ sentiments were echoed by Gold Coast Mayor Tom Tate. “This home-grown company is reinvesting in itself and our city, creating high-value jobs and opportunities for the next generation of Gold Coast innovators,” Tate said.

Breaking space news, the latest updates on rocket launches, skywatching events and more!

Eris’ first voyage rocketThe launch vehicle, dubbed TestFlight1 as Gilmour Space qualifies its systems and propulsion technology, will be several firsts for the launch vehicle. The company had been preparing for several months ahead of the Eris debut, and in September completed a key refueling test with the vehicle, known as a wet dress rehearsal, with the countdown counting down to T-10 seconds.

Adam Gilmour, founder and CEO of Gilmour Space, heralded the launch clearance as “an important milestone for the local space industry.”

“With this green light, we will soon conduct the first orbital test flight of an Australian-made rocket from Australian soil,” he said in the press release.

Related Posts