Australian rocket crashes moments after launch in Queensland
An Australian-made rocket has crashed back to earth after less than a minute in the air — but its launch is still a “success”, its designer says.
The orbital rocket designed by Queensland-based Gilmour Space Technologies crashed shortly after liftoff early this morning.
Eris took off from a spaceport in Bowen after being rescheduled several times this year due to weather and technical issues.
The 30-tonne orbital rocket would have been the first Australia’s first launch in over fifty years.
How it Happened
Co-founder Adam Gilmour said shortly after the launch that he deemed the rocket’s temporary liftoff a success despite limited airtime.
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“Of course I would have liked more flight time but I’m happy with this,” Gilmour posted to LinkedIn this morning.
Eris ascended 50 metres where it hovered and momentarily maintained vertical altitude while drifting sideways. After 14 seconds of flight, the rocket slowly drifted back down to the ground where it impacted near the launchpad.
“Getting off the pad and into flight is a huge step forward for any new rocket program. This was the first real test of our rocket systems, our propulsion technology, and our spaceport — and it proved that much of what we’ve built works,” Gilmour said.
Eris TestFlight 1 was the result of years of work from a team of 200 people and 500 Australian suppliers. The mission received support from the Australian Space Agency, CASA, Airservices Australia, and maritime authorities.
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Gilmour Space Technologies received over $5 million from the Australian Government in support of its Bowen project.
Bowen, the small town north of Mackay, is known for its windy weather, which caused the launch’s cancellation yesterday afternoon.
What’s Next?
University of Southern Queensland astrobiologist Jonti Horner said the launch served as an incredibly exciting achievement for the Australian space industry.
“This is a hybrid rocket… it’s totally new technology, which is why it is so challenging,” Horner said.
Horner said much can be learned from things that go wrong, and that Gilmour’s mission was as successful as first launches typically get.
“When they do get this to orbit, and I do think it’s a ‘when’ not an ‘if’, it will be the first hybrid rocket to ever successfully reach orbit,” Horner said.
Gilmour Space Technologies hopes to next send satellites into orbit for commercial entities and government.
Adam Gilmour and his team will now review today’s flight data and apply the lessons learned to TestFlight 2.
