Gilmour Space Technologies launched its maiden rocket from northern Queensland on Wednesday morning, but it crashed shortly after the historic take-off.
The locally designed and manufactured rocket took off then hovered for around ten seconds before appearing to crash adjacent to the launch pad.
“Got off the Pad , I am happy,” Gilmour Space Technologies founder Adam Gilmour said.
“Of course I would have liked more flight time but happy with this.”
According to the company, the 23-meter, 30-tonne Eris rocket achieved approximately 14 seconds of flight and 23 seconds of engine burn.
No injuries or adverse environmental impacts were reported and Gilmour is now reviewing flight data to determine the cause of “the anomaly that led to early termination”.
Wednesday’s launch came after several attempts had to be abandoned due to technical issues and high winds.
Video of the launch by YouTube channel Aussienaut appears to show the Eris rocket did not achieve sufficient thrust on takeoff but still stayed upright before crashing away from the launch pad.
The launch is a milestone for Gilmour Space Technologies, which has spent years designing and building the Eris three-stage rocket.
“Getting off the pad and into flight is a huge step forward for any new rocket program,” Mr Gilmour said.
“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.”
The Eris launch from the Bowen Orbital Spaceport in Queensland also needed to clear regulatory hurdles and line up with a good weather window.
At least one of the prior launch attempts came within seconds off liftoff before being shut down.
Wednesday’s launch marks important progress for the company and a historic event for Australia’s emerging commercial space sector.
Mr Gilmour has said the company is proceeding with another capital round, seeking to raise $150 million in what will be its sixth VC round.
TestFlight1 — Liftoff 🚀
Today, Eris became the first #AustralianMade orbital rocket to launch from Australian soil — ~14s of flight, 23s engine burn.
Big step for 🇦🇺 launch capability. Team safe, data in hand, eyes on TestFlight 2.
(More pics and vids to come from the media.) pic.twitter.com/l9yPSUAIbR
— Gilmour Space (@GilmourSpace) July 30, 2025
Clearing the launch pad was seen as a key achievement and demonstration to potential investors.
Raising the money “will be a lot easier if I get off the pad, and a lot harder if I don’t,” Mr Gilmour told InnovationAus.com earlier this month.
“We’ve talked to a lot of investors, and they’re all waiting for us to do this launch attempt.”
A second test flight had been planned regardless of Wednesday’s outcome and Gilmour will also launch the first test of its new HyPeRsonic FLight Test (HPRFLT or Hyper Flight) service.
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