Gilmour halts rocket launch
The Helensvale-based Gilmour Space Technologies was forced to postpone the launch of its Eris Test Flight 1 at the company’s purpose-built Bowen Orbital Spaceport at the Abbot Point State Development Area in North Queensland
The company made the decision after discovering a “pre-launch anomaly” during final preparations.
The company said an electrical fault had inadvertently triggered the deployment mechanism of the rocket’s payload fairing — the carbon-fibre nose cone designed to protect the payload during ascent.
The incident occurred before the rocket was fuelled up.
“Our team encountered the issue before fuelling and liftoff, which is exactly what ground testing is meant to do,” said Adam Gilmour, CEO of Gilmour Space.
“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.”
The company is now analysing the data to fully understand the cause of the electrical fault. A replacement payload fairing from Gilmour’s Gold Coast manufacturing facility will be being transported to the Bowen launch site.
“As always, safety is our highest priority,” said Mr Gilmour. “We’ll take the time needed to identify and resolve the issue before resuming launch operations.”
As a result, the current test campaign is on hold and the launch will be delayed by at least a few weeks. A new target launch window will be announced once confirmed.
Founded in 2015 by brothers Adam and James Gilmour, the company has been working towards the first launch for nearly 10 years.
Eris is a three-stage rocket powered by a hybrid rocket engine. It is about the same height as a 7-storey building and at lift-off weighs 34 tonnes – equal to about 17 average sized cars.
The rocket is fuelled by uses a proprietary hybrid-propellant technology that the company says is safer and cheaper than traditional liquid- and solid-fuelled rockets.
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