Gilmour’s Test Flight 1 Is A Success… For 14 Seconds
Gilmour Space Technologies has completed the maiden test launch of Australia’s first locally designed and built orbital rocket — and while it didn’t make it very far, it did achieve several mission targets.
The 23-meter, 30-tonne Eris rocket, powered by new hybrid propulsion technology, successfully lifted off from the Bowen Orbital Spaceport in North Queensland, achieving approximately 14 seconds of flight.
It comes after repeated delays due to the strong winds Bowen is famous for, and a short circuit caused the nose fairing to deploy prematurely on the first launch attempt.
Nonetheless, clearing the tower was a key milestone says Adam Gilmour and the fact that hybrid propulsion technology was used meant there was no fireball or large explosion, leaving the launch complex relatively unscathed. Additionally no injuries were reported to the crew.
Gilmour is well advanced on Eris-2, so we’ll be seeing another launch attempt soon.