Gilmour Space Receives Launch Permit for Australia’s First Orbital-Class Rocket

Gilmour Space Technologies is preparing to bring orbital-class, commercial spaceflight to Australia, with plans for an upcoming launch of its three-stage Eris rocket. On Tuesday, the company confirmed it received an official permit from the Australian Space Agency and the Minister for Industry and Science. This milestone allows Gilmour Space to proceed with the inaugural test launch of its homegrown rocket.

Gilmour Space’s Launch Plans and Location

The Eris rocket is set to launch from Bowen Orbital Spaceport, located in north Queensland. Per the terms of the launch permit, Gilmour Space must provide a 30-day notice before the intended launch date, though the company has yet to finalize this timing. CEO Adam Gilmour stated that his team is currently reviewing the permit’s conditions and will announce a launch window for Eris TestFlight1 soon.

Recent Preparations and Test Milestones

In preparation for launch, the Eris rocket was raised on its launchpad for the first time on 11 April 2023, initially aiming for a test flight by 4 May. Delays, however, have pushed the tentative launch timeframe to December or January. A major step forward occurred on September 30, when Gilmour Space successfully completed a wet dress rehearsal, counting down to T-minus 10 seconds in a simulation of launch day.

Gilmour Space’s Eris Rocket Design and Capabilities

The Eris Block 1 rocket is 25 meters (82 feet) tall, with a first-stage booster diameter of 2 meters and a second-stage diameter of 1.5 meters. Its payload fairing is between 1.2 and 1.5 meters in diameter. 

Eris is capable of delivering up to 305 kilograms (672 pounds) into low Earth orbit, with hybrid rocket engines powering both its first and second stages. Four Sirius engines drive the first stage, while the second stage is equipped with a single Sirius engine. The third stage is powered by the company’s 3D-printed Phoenix engine, which uses liquid oxygen and rocket-grade kerosene for propulsion.

Once certified, Eris will have the flexibility to target a variety of orbits specifically designed for “20- to 65-degree low- to mid-inclination equatorial orbits.”