First ever Australian-built rocket's launch delayed as issue discovered hours before scheduled take-off
Gilmour Space Technologies is hoping to make history when its Eris rocket launches for the first time from Bowen Orbital Spaceport in north Queensland, and a launch window of between 7.30am - 5.30pm on Thursday had been set.
But the Gold Coast-based rocket company provided an update about 6.30am on Thursday morning, sharing that an issue has been identified in the ground support system during overnight checks.
'We're now in an extended hold while we work through it,' a post on the Gilmour Space Technologies' Facebook page said.
The company is now hoping to launch on Friday morning.
Bowen area residents have been asked to observe all hazard areas for land, sea and air that are in place on launch days.
Gilmour Space Technologies announced in February that a launch window starting no earlier than March 15 had been set for Eris' maiden flight, which hoped to make history as the first Australian-designed and built rocket to reach orbit.
The news came after the company was given the green light by the Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA) and Airservices Australia.
Co-founder and chief executive Adam Gilmour highlighted that delays are a 'normal part of rocket launches' that can last from hours to days or even weeks, often caused by technical issues or weather conditions.
"Safety is always the top priority. We'll only launch when we're ready, and when conditions are appropriate," Mr Gilmour said in the February announcement.
He pointed out 'the first launch is always the hardest' as getting a rocket to reach orbit is a 'highly complex engineering challenge'.
"It's almost unheard of for a private rocket company to launch successfully to orbit the first time,' Mr Gilmour said.
'Whether we make it off the pad, reach max Q, or get all the way to space, what's important is that every second of flight will deliver valuable data that will improve our rocket's reliability and performance for future launches."
Mr Gilmoir said there are only six countries in the world regularly launching rockets into space using their own technology, and 'Australia could soon be one of them'.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Sydney Morning Herald
19 minutes ago
- Sydney Morning Herald
Strategic CEO hire to drive NeuroScientific stem cell therapy release
NeuroScientific Biopharmaceuticals has made a second heavy-hitting appointment in less than a week, bringing in experienced Melbourne-based executive Nathan Smith as its chief executive officer, as the company gears up for the commercial release of its innovative StemSmart stem cell technology. Smith has extensive experience in cell and gene therapies in senior commercial, operational and strategic roles in Australia and the United States, which should prove invaluable as the company navigates the regulatory and commercial pathways for its innovative StemSmart technology. The company says his deep expertise in good practice manufacturing will be critical for converting the biotechnology startup into a scaled-up commercial stem cell company. NeuroScientific acquired the StemSmart technology in late June via its $4.1 million acquisition of unlisted Perth-based stem cell company Isopgen. StemSmart uses a specific type of stem cell, mesenchymal stromal stem cells (MSC), as a last-line infusion treatment for critically ill patients, including those experiencing severe immune complications from bone marrow transplants, kidney and lung transplant rejection and inflammatory Crohn's disease. 'I was attracted to NSB given the historical success of StemSmart in multiple serious clinical disorders and the clear potential of the technology for further development.' NeuroScientific Biopharmaceuticals chief executive officer Nathan Smith Adding to the company's ranks of highly credentialled personnel, NeuroScientific announced on Friday that it had also recruited well-regarded Perth-based paediatric haematologist and oncologist Dr Catherine Cole as its chief medical officer. The news of both appointments has continued to fuel a stellar rise in the company's share price, which traded 11.3 per cent higher today to 24.5 cents on the best turnover since April. The company's share price is up 360 per cent since the start of June. Smith was the director of business development at Melbourne's Cell Therapies, which develops and manufactures advanced cell-based therapies and is located within the city's pioneering Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre. He has held key roles at Genzyme Corporation, Mesoblast Inc and GlaxoSmithKline in the US, as well as other leading companies in the cell therapy sector.
AU Financial Review
19 minutes ago
- AU Financial Review
‘We are not Luddites': AFR readers react to AI productivity boost
Almost 75 per cent of readers polled by The Australian Financial Review support a push by the Productivity Commission and business to embrace artificial intelligence as a way to lift productivity and boost the economy, but almost half do not support union involvement in AI regulation. Productivity Commission chairwoman Danielle Wood is recommending the Albanese government overhaul company tax, speed up planning approvals for infrastructure projects and embrace artificial intelligence to lift the economy out of stagnation. She said Australian full-time workers would be at least $14,000 better off by 2035 if productivity growth was boosted.
AU Financial Review
19 minutes ago
- AU Financial Review
Hedge fund LHC Capital profits from new bet in Dalrymple Bay
LHC Capital has made a 14 per cent return in the last three months buoyed by a strong rebound in some of the hedge fund's biggest stock bets and a timely investment in Queensland's Dalrymple Bay Infrastructure that it says is on the cusp of a re-rating. The Sydney-based short seller started buying shares in Dalrymple Bay, the world's largest metallurgical coal export terminal, after US private equity giant Brookfield Infrastructure sold down a large chunk of its stake last month.
