Glitch delays vegemite launch into orbit

RTHK

16-05-2025

Glitch delays vegemite launch into orbit
A photo from Gilmour Space Technologies in May shows its three-stage Eris rocket. File photo: AFP
An Australian aerospace firm said on 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.
An electrical fault erroneously deployed the opening mechanism of the carbon-fibre nose cone during pre-flight testing, Gilmour Space Technologies said.
The nose cone is designed to shield the payload during the rocket's ascent through the Earth's atmosphere before reaching space.
The mishap happened before fuelling of the vehicle at the company's spaceport near the east coast township of Bowen, about 1,000 kilometres up from the Queensland capital Brisbane.
"The good news is the rocket and the team are both fine. While we're disappointed by the delay, we're already working through a resolution and expect to be back on the pad soon," said chief executive Adam Gilmour.
"As always, safety is our highest priority."
Gilmour said the team would now work to identify the problem on its 23-metre, three-stage Eris rocket, which is designed to send satellites into low-Earth orbit.
A replacement nose cone would be transported to the launch site in the coming days, he said.
Weighing 30 tonnes fully fuelled, the rocket has a hybrid propulsion system, using a solid inert fuel and a liquid oxidiser, which provides the oxygen for it to burn.
If successful, it would be the first Australian-made rocket to be sent into orbit from Australian soil.
The payload for the initial test - a jar of Vegemite - remained intact.
Gilmour Space Technologies had to delay a launch attempt the previous day, too, because of a bug in the external power system it relies on for system checks.
The company, which has 230 employees, hopes to start commercial launches in late 2026 or early 2027. (AFP)