29 July 2025 Gilmour Space Technologies conducted the historic first launch of the Australian-made Eris orbital rocket from the Bowen Orbital Spaceport in Queensland.. The launch took place Fr. 08:35 local time (01:35 30 July for Kyiv). However, the rocket, that rose from the platform, began to shift sideways through 14 seconds after the start and fell to the ground, causing an explosion and a large column of smoke.
Mission details and results
Eris rocket, height 25 meters and weight 30 tons, equipped with Sirius hybrid engines (four in the first degree, one on top of the other) and the Phoenix liquid engine on the third stage, was designed to lead to 215 kg of cargo into sun-synchronous orbit or 305 kg to equatorial orbit. Despite the failure, Gilmour Space considers the launch a partial success, as the rocket lifted off from the pad, the first stage engine was running 23 seconds, and key systems, including telemetry and tracking, functioned properly. The company emphasized, that the data obtained will be used to improve future launches, including TestFlight 2, preparation for which is already underway with the new Eris missile in production.
The launch did not cause injuries or significant environmental damage, and the infrastructure of the spaceport remained intact. Gilmour Space noted, that failure was expected, since the first test flights of new missiles are rarely completely successful. Example, SpaceX and Rocket Lab also experienced several setbacks before achieving orbital success.
Obstacles before launch
The road to the launch of Eris was complicated. The initial plan was to start in March 2025 year, but it was canceled by Tropical Cyclone Alfred. In May, the launch was delayed due to a technical problem: unexpected voltage surge, caused by back current from external equipment, led to the premature opening of the cargo fairing. The company replaced the fairing, manufactured in a factory in Gold Coast, but further delays due to high winds in the Bowen Orbital Spaceport area pushed the date back to 29 July. For 18 months the rocket was waiting for final permits from the Australian government, which also made preparation difficult.
Importance to the Australian space industry
Gilmour Space, founded by brothers Adam and James Gilmour in 2013 year, is committed to making Australia a significant player in the space industry. Company, which amounts to approx 200 employees and cooperates with 500 Australian suppliers, received the support of the Australian government, in particular 5 million dollars to develop the Sirius hybrid engine. The Eris launch was the first attempt at an orbital flight from Australian territory in more than 50 years.
Despite the failure, the launch is seen as an important step in the development of Australia's sovereign space capabilities. According to University of Southern Queensland astrobiologist Jonty Horner, the event demonstrates the maturity of the commercial space industry, which has historically been the prerogative of government agencies. Gilmour Space also develops satellites, such as ElaraSat, which in June 2025 2016 with the SpaceX Transporter-14 mission successfully launched a hyperspectral device for monitoring water quality into orbit.
Source: https://www.space.com