Latest news with #Australian-made
New York Post
15 hours ago
- Business
- New York Post
First Australian-made rocket crashes after 14 seconds of flight in failed attempt to reach orbit
The first Australian-made rocket to attempt to reach orbit from the country's soil crashed after 14 seconds of flight on Wednesday. The rocket Eris, launched by Gilmour Space Technologies, was the first Australian-designed and manufactured orbital launch vehicle to lift off from the country and was designed to carry small satellites to orbit. It launched Wednesday morning local time in a test flight from a spaceport near the small town of Bowen in the north of Queensland state. 4 The Gilmour Space Technologies Eris rocket lifts off from its launch pad near Bowen, Australia on July 30, 2025. AP In videos published by Australian news outlets, the 75-foot rocket appeared to clear the launch tower and hovered in the air before falling out of sight. Plumes of smoke were seen rising above the site. No injuries were reported. The company hailed the launch as a success in a statement posted to Facebook. A spokesperson said all four hybrid-propelled engines ignited and the maiden flight included 23 seconds of engine burn time and 14 seconds of flight. Gilmour Space Technologies had planned previous launches of the rocket, in May and earlier this month, but called off those operations because of technical issues and bad weather. 4 The 75-foot rocket cleared the launch tower and hovered in the air before falling out of sight. AP CEO Adam Gilmour said in a statement he was pleased the rocket got off the launchpad. 'Of course I would have liked more flight time but happy with this,' he wrote on LinkedIn. Gilmour said in February that it was 'almost unheard of' for a private rocket company to successfully launch to orbit on its first attempt. The firm had earlier said it would consider the launch a success if the rocket left the ground. The launch site infrastructure 'remained intact,' the statement said. Mayor Ry Collins of the local Whitsunday Regional Council said the completed launch was a 'huge achievement' even though the vehicle didn't reach orbit. 4 CEO Adam Gilmour said in a statement he was pleased the rocket got off the launchpad. GILMOUR SPACE TECHNOLOGIES/AFP via Getty Images 4 The firm had earlier said it would consider the launch a success if the rocket left the ground. The launch site infrastructure 'remained intact,' the statement said. AP 'This is an important first step towards the giant leap of a future commercial space industry right here in our region,' he wrote on Facebook. Gilmour Space Technologies has private funders and was awarded a $3.2 million grant this month from the country's federal government for the development of the Eris rocket. It followed the firm's $34 million grant agreement with the government in 2023 to advance the development and commercialization of new space technologies in Australia. The country has been the site of hundreds of suborbital vehicle launches but there have only been two successful launches to orbit from Australia before, according to the aerospace news platform NASASpaceFlight. The maiden Eris test flight was the first orbital launch attempt from Australia in more than 50 years.
7NEWS
a day ago
- Science
- 7NEWS
UFO mystery: Glowing orbs over Queensland and NSW explained
Some mysterious and oddly shaped orbs in the sky have left Australians wondering if they had spotted a UFO. Three glowing white shapes were seen pulsating and expanding above the east coast around midnight on Wednesday. WATCH THE VIDEO ABOVE: East Coast UFO sighting. Residents from Queensland to northern NSW posted videos of the eerie sight on social media, with many speculating they had just caught a glimpse of something not of this world. 'Maybe three UFOs or a big star ship,' a Gold Coast witness told 7NEWS. 'The one my brother witnessed ... woke him up because it was so bright,' said another viewer. 'I think it might be something terrestrial from outer space,' one person guessed. 'Probably asteroids,' another suggested. 'It's a UFO. It has to be,' another viewer insisted. While the glowing orbs sparked talk of extraterrestrial visitors, Australian National University astrophysicist and cosmologist Dr Brad Tucker offered a more down-to-earth explanation. He told The Morning Show the mysterious sight was actually a rocket plume — the exhaust released when parts of a rocket separate during launch. But the plume did not come from the first-ever Australian-made rocket that crashed 14 seconds after launching on Wednesday. 'This was from a Chinese launch, a Chinese Long March 8A, launched about 6.15pm AEST. So, it really matches up with the program,' Tucker said. According to Chinese media, the rocket lifted off from the Hainan commercial spaceport at 5.49pm on Wednesday AEST, carrying the sixth batch of low-orbit internet satellites into their planned orbits. The launch was reported as a complete success. Tucker said the rocket was launched to the southeast, passing over the ocean just off the coast of Queensland. 'Rockets have multiple stages, and when those parts of the rocket separate, they have little thrusters and gas that separate them. And that's kind of the exhaust coming out,' he explained. 'So, you can kind of picture there are two sides in the photo you're seeing now. 'That's the gas coming out the side as the rocket separates.' The unusual shape of the orbs is not unheard of. 'Sometimes we call these 'space jellyfish', believe it or not, because of the weird shape and tentacles,' he said. Although the lights may have seemed close, Tucker said they were likely hundreds of kilometres offshore and dozens of kilometres in the atmosphere. 'If you think about the rocket launch as it goes up, it actually takes quite a while to actually enter space. 'And so it's traveling for hundreds, if not thousands of kilometers before those parts are separate. 'They're also designed that when they separate they separate over the ocean so that if obviously anything comes down it lands in the ocean.' Social media erupts with strange sky activity from NSW to QLD. As for why the orbs appeared to be floating in place, he said it was simply the lingering exhaust hanging high in the atmosphere. 'It's kind of like peeling out in a car — the dust plume just hangs in the air behind it,' he said. 'The same thing happens with a rocket. The strange sight, he added, will eventually fade. 'The gas stays where the separation happens, and over time it just fades off into the atmosphere.'
News18
a day ago
- Business
- News18
First Australian-Made Rocket Crashes 14 Seconds After Launch Of Flight
Last Updated: Australia's first locally made orbital rocket, Eris, launched by Gilmour Space Technologies, crashed 14 seconds after liftoff during a test flight in Queensland. The first Australian-made rocket crashed after 14 seconds of flight on Wednesday as it attempted to reach orbit from the country's soil. The rocket Eris, launched by Gilmour Space Technologies, was the first Australian-designed and manufactured orbital launch vehicle to lift off from the country and was designed to carry small satellites to orbit. It launched Wednesday morning local time in a test flight from a spaceport near the small town of Bowen in the north of Queensland state. In a video of the launch, the rocket appeared to clear the launch tower and hovered in the air before falling out of sight. Plumes of smoke were seen rising above the site. No injuries were reported. Liftoff completed, launch tower cleared, stage 1 result for a first test launch. — Gilmour Space (@GilmourSpace) July 30, 2025 Meanwhile, the company hailed the launch as a success in a statement posted to Facebook. According to the Associated Press, a spokesperson said all four hybrid-propelled engines ignited and the maiden flight included 23 seconds of engine burn time and 14 seconds of flight. Gilmour Space Technologies had planned previous launches of the rocket, in May and earlier this month, but called off those operations because of technical issues and bad weather. CEO Adam Gilmour said in a statement he was pleased the rocket got off the launchpad. 'Of course I would have liked more flight time but happy with this," he wrote on LinkedIn. In February, Gilmour had said that it was 'almost unheard of" for a private rocket company to successfully launch to orbit on its first attempt. The firm had earlier said it would consider the launch a success if the rocket left the ground. The launch site infrastructure 'remained intact," the statement read. Gilmour Space Technologies has private funders and was awarded a 5 million Australian dollar ($3.2 million) grant this month from the country's federal government for the development of the Eris rocket. It followed the firm's 52 million Australian dollar grant agreement with the government in 2023 to advance the development and commercialisation of new space technologies in Australia. view comments First Published: July 31, 2025, 09:16 IST Disclaimer: Comments reflect users' views, not News18's. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.
Indian Express
a day ago
- Science
- Indian Express
1st made-in-Australia orbital rocket crashes after 14 seconds flight time: ‘Team safe, data in hand, ready for TestFlight 2'
In its first attempt, an Australian-made orbital rocket –the first to launch from the country– crashed after 23 seconds of engine burn time and 14 seconds of flight on Wednesday morning, local time. It was the first orbital launch attempt from Australia in more than 50 years. The maiden rocket Eris made its first attempt to reach orbit from Australian soil, in a test flight from a spaceport near the small town of Bowen. 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.) — Gilmour Space (@GilmourSpace) July 30, 2025 Launched by Gilmour Space Technologies, it was the first Australian-designed and manufactured launch vehicle made to carry small satellites to orbit. In videos published by Australian news outlets, the 23-metre (75-foot) rocket appeared to clear the launch tower and hovered in the air before falling out of sight. Plumes of smoke were seen rising above the site. No injuries were reported. In a statement following the launch, the Australian company hailed the launch as a success. All four hybrid-propelled engines ignited, and the maiden flight included 23 seconds of engine burn time and 14 seconds of flight, a spokesperson said. The launch site infrastructure 'remained intact,' the statement added. 'Of course I would have liked more flight time but happy with this,' CEO Adam Gilmour wrote on LinkedIn. Gilmour Space Technologies had earlier said it would consider the launch a success if the rocket left the ground. The firm had planned previous launches of the rocket, in May and earlier this month, but called off those operations because of technical issues and bad weather. In February, it said that it was 'almost unheard of' for a private rocket company to successfully launch to orbit on its first attempt. Mayor Ry Collins of the local Whitsunday Regional Council said the completed launch was a 'huge achievement' even though the vehicle didn't reach orbit. 'This is an important first step towards the giant leap of a future commercial space industry right here in our region,' he wrote on Facebook. It has private funders and was awarded a 5 million Australian dollar ($3.2 million) grant this month from the Australia's federal government for the development of the Eris rocket. It followed the firm's AU$52 million grant agreement with the government in 2023 to advance the development and commercialisation of new space technologies in Australia. There have only been two successful launches to orbit from Australia before, according to the aerospace news platform NASASpaceFlight. However, the country has been the site of hundreds of suborbital vehicle launches. With AP inputs
Toronto Sun
a day ago
- Science
- Toronto Sun
First Australian-made rocket crashes after 14 seconds of flight in a failed attempt to reach orbit
Published Jul 30, 2025 • 2 minute read In this photo provided by Gilmour Space Technologies, an Eris rocket is launched near Bowen, Australia, Wednesday, July 30, 2025. Photo by Gilmour Space Technologies / THE ASSOCIATED PRESS WELLINGTON, New Zealand — The first Australian-made rocket to attempt to reach orbit from the country's soil crashed after 14 seconds of flight on Wednesday. This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. THIS CONTENT IS RESERVED FOR SUBSCRIBERS ONLY Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada. Unlimited online access to articles from across Canada with one account. Get exclusive access to the Toronto Sun ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition that you can share, download and comment on. Enjoy insights and behind-the-scenes analysis from our award-winning journalists. Support local journalists and the next generation of journalists. Daily puzzles including the New York Times Crossword. SUBSCRIBE TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada. Unlimited online access to articles from across Canada with one account. Get exclusive access to the Toronto Sun ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition that you can share, download and comment on. Enjoy insights and behind-the-scenes analysis from our award-winning journalists. Support local journalists and the next generation of journalists. Daily puzzles including the New York Times Crossword. REGISTER / SIGN IN TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience. Access articles from across Canada with one account. Share your thoughts and join the conversation in the comments. Enjoy additional articles per month. Get email updates from your favourite authors. THIS ARTICLE IS FREE TO READ REGISTER TO UNLOCK. Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience. Access articles from across Canada with one account Share your thoughts and join the conversation in the comments Enjoy additional articles per month Get email updates from your favourite authors Don't have an account? Create Account The rocket Eris, launched by Gilmour Space Technologies, was the first Australian-designed and manufactured orbital launch vehicle to lift off from the country and was designed to carry small satellites to orbit. It launched Wednesday morning local time in a test flight from a spaceport near the small town of Bowen in the north of Queensland state. In videos published by Australian news outlets, the 23-metre (75-foot) rocket appeared to clear the launch tower and hovered in the air before falling out of sight. Plumes of smoke were seen rising above the site. No injuries were reported. The company hailed the launch as a success in a statement posted to Facebook. A spokesperson said all four hybrid-propelled engines ignited and the maiden flight included 23 seconds of engine burn time and 14 seconds of flight. Your noon-hour look at what's happening in Toronto and beyond. By signing up you consent to receive the above newsletter from Postmedia Network Inc. Please try again This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. Gilmour Space Technologies had planned previous launches of the rocket, in May and earlier this month, but called off those operations because of technical issues and bad weather. CEO Adam Gilmour said in a statement he was pleased the rocket got off the launchpad. 'Of course I would have liked more flight time but happy with this,' he wrote on LinkedIn. Gilmour said in February that it was 'almost unheard of' for a private rocket company to successfully launch to orbit on its first attempt. The firm had earlier said it would consider the launch a success if the rocket left the ground. The launch site infrastructure 'remained intact,' the statement said. Mayor Ry Collins of the local Whitsunday Regional Council said the completed launch was a 'huge achievement' even though the vehicle didn't reach orbit. This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. 'This is an important first step towards the giant leap of a future commercial space industry right here in our region,' he wrote on Facebook. Gilmour Space Technologies has private funders and was awarded a 5 million Australian dollar ($3.2 million) grant this month from the country's federal government for the development of the Eris rocket. It followed the firm's AU$52 million grant agreement with the government in 2023 to advance the development and commercialization of new space technologies in Australia. The country has been the site of hundreds of suborbital vehicle launches but there have only been two successful launches to orbit from Australia before, according to the aerospace news platform NASASpaceFlight. The maiden Eris test flight was the first orbital launch attempt from Australia in more than 50 years. Celebrity MLB Canada Opinion Wrestling
