Gilmour Space Targets Historic First Australian Orbital Launch Attempt with Eris Rocket in Mid-March

Australian company Gilmour Space is targeting no earlier than March 15 for the first launch attempt of its Eris rocket from the Bowen Orbital Spaceport in Queensland. This launch, designated TestFlight1, follows approval from Australia's Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA) and aims to be the first Australian rocket to reach orbit from Australian soil. The 82-foot (25-meter) tall Eris rocket, designed and built in Australia, can carry up to 474 pounds (215 kilograms) to a 310-mile-altitude (500 kilometers) sun-synchronous orbit, utilizing a three-stage hybrid propulsion system. Gilmour Space acknowledges potential challenges such as weather and technical issues, emphasizing safety as the top priority. The company recognizes the difficulty of first launches, citing SpaceX's fourth attempt success, and values the data gained from each second of flight to improve future launches. Founded in 2015, Gilmour Space has over 200 employees and is backed by private investors, aiming to lower the cost of access to space.