US EditionThe Top Fell Off Australia’s First Orbital-Class Rocket, Delaying Its Launch
- Gilmour Space Technologies postponed the maiden flight of its Eris rocket, a three-stage vehicle, which was scheduled near Bowen, Queensland on May 15.
- The delay occurred because of a ground system glitch involving an external power system needed during system checks, and they ran out of time to implement the fix and fuel the rocket.
- The 23-metre vehicle is designed to carry small satellites, including a jar of Vegemite, into low-Earth orbit from a spaceport about 1,000 kilometres from Brisbane.
- Michelle Gilmour explained that they found the solution to the problem but did not have enough time to apply the fix and load fuel into the rocket before the end of the scheduled launch window. Adam Gilmour expressed skepticism about achieving orbit this time, even though it remains a theoretical possibility.
- The company delayed the rocket launch to the next available window on May 16 and stated that achieving even a brief flight duration would be considered a positive outcome, with plans to begin revenue-generating launches by the end of 2026 or the beginning of 2027.
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The Killeen Daily Herald+32 Reposted by 32 other sources
Nose cone glitch wipes Australian rocket launch
An Australian aerospace firm said Friday it has scrubbed a historic attempt to send a locally developed rocket into orbit, citing a glitch in the nose cone protecting its payload -- a jar of Vegemite.
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Total News Sources85
Leaning Left7Leaning Right15Center19Last UpdatedBias Distribution46% Center
Bias Distribution
- 46% of the sources are Center
46% Center
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C 46%
R 37%
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