Latest news with #MichelleGilmour
Sharjah 24
16-05-2025
- Business
- Sharjah 24
Australian rocket launch wiped off by nose cone problem
Technical glitch detected Gilmour Space Technologies reported that an electrical fault mistakenly triggered the opening mechanism of the carbon-fibre nose cone during pre-flight testing. This nose cone is crucial for shielding the payload during the rocket's ascent through the Earth's atmosphere. Incident overview The mishap occurred before the vehicle was fueled at the company's spaceport near Bowen, approximately 1,000 kilometers (600 miles) north of Brisbane. Gilmour's CEO, Adam Gilmour, reassured that both the rocket and the team are safe, expressing disappointment but emphasising safety as the top priority. Moving forward The team will work to identify the issue with the 23-meter (75-foot) Eris rocket, designed for launching satellites into low-Earth orbit. A replacement nose cone is expected to be transported to the launch site shortly. Rocket specifications The fully fueled rocket weighs 30 tonnes and features a hybrid propulsion system that uses solid inert fuel and a liquid oxidizer. If successful, this launch would mark the first time an Australian-made rocket is sent into orbit from Australian soil. Team resilience Communications chief Michelle Gilmour acknowledged the team's disappointment but noted that setbacks are common in rocket development. The initial launch attempt had also been delayed a day prior due to a bug in the external power system. Future plans Gilmour Space Technologies, with a workforce of 230 employees, aims to commence commercial launches by late 2026 or early 2027. The company has been developing rockets for a decade and is supported by investors, including venture capital group Blackbird and pension fund HESTA.
The Sun
15-05-2025
- Business
- The Sun
System glitch delays Australian-made rocket launch
SYDNEY: An Australian aerospace firm said Thursday it has delayed a historic first attempt to launch a locally developed rocket into orbit, with a jar of Vegemite as its payload. Gilmour Space Technologies said a ground system glitch forced it to postpone the first test launch of its three-stage Eris rocket by a day until Friday. 'The issue was with an external power system we use during system checks,' communications chief Michelle Gilmour told AFP. 'We've identified the fix but ran out of time to implement it and fuel the rocket within today's launch window.' The rocket has a multi-day launch window to fly from a spaceport near the east coast township of Bowen, about 1,000 kilometres (600 miles) up from the Queensland capital Brisbane. If successful, it would be the first Australian-made rocket to make an orbital launch from Australian soil. The 23-metre (75-foot) vehicle is designed to launch small satellites into low-Earth orbit but on the first launch it will carry a jar of Vegemite -- a popular Australian toast topping. Chief executive Adam Gilmour said the firm is not expecting things to go smoothly on the first test. If it orbits Earth 'I would probably have a heart attack, actually, because I'll be so surprised, but deliriously happy', Gilmour told AFP this week. 'We're going to be happy if it gets off the pad -- 10, 20, 30 seconds of flight time: fantastic. So orbit is just not in the realm of my belief right now, even though it's theoretically possible.' The rocket design is for a capacity of 100-200 kilogrammes (220-440 pounds), with further upgrades being developed. Weighing 30 tonnes fully fuelled, it has a hybrid propulsion system, using a solid inert fuel and a liquid oxidiser, which provides the oxygen for it to burn, Gilmour said. Gilmour Space Technologies is backed by private investors including venture capital group Blackbird and pension fund HESTA. The company, which has 230 employees, hopes to start commercial launches in late 2026 or early 2027, Gilmour said, and then to rapidly grow revenues.
The Sun
15-05-2025
- Business
- The Sun
Australia Delays Historic Rocket Launch Over Glitch
SYDNEY: An Australian aerospace firm said Thursday it has delayed a historic first attempt to launch a locally developed rocket into orbit, with a jar of Vegemite as its payload. Gilmour Space Technologies said a ground system glitch forced it to postpone the first test launch of its three-stage Eris rocket by a day until Friday. 'The issue was with an external power system we use during system checks,' communications chief Michelle Gilmour told AFP. 'We've identified the fix but ran out of time to implement it and fuel the rocket within today's launch window.' The rocket has a multi-day launch window to fly from a spaceport near the east coast township of Bowen, about 1,000 kilometres (600 miles) up from the Queensland capital Brisbane. If successful, it would be the first Australian-made rocket to make an orbital launch from Australian soil. The 23-metre (75-foot) vehicle is designed to launch small satellites into low-Earth orbit but on the first launch it will carry a jar of Vegemite -- a popular Australian toast topping. Chief executive Adam Gilmour said the firm is not expecting things to go smoothly on the first test. If it orbits Earth 'I would probably have a heart attack, actually, because I'll be so surprised, but deliriously happy', Gilmour told AFP this week. 'We're going to be happy if it gets off the pad -- 10, 20, 30 seconds of flight time: fantastic. So orbit is just not in the realm of my belief right now, even though it's theoretically possible.' The rocket design is for a capacity of 100-200 kilogrammes (220-440 pounds), with further upgrades being developed. Weighing 30 tonnes fully fuelled, it has a hybrid propulsion system, using a solid inert fuel and a liquid oxidiser, which provides the oxygen for it to burn, Gilmour said. Gilmour Space Technologies is backed by private investors including venture capital group Blackbird and pension fund HESTA. The company, which has 230 employees, hopes to start commercial launches in late 2026 or early 2027, Gilmour said, and then to rapidly grow revenues.
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First Post
15-05-2025
- Business
- First Post
System glitch leads to delay in launch of first Australian-made rocket
Gilmour Space Technologies said a ground system glitch forced it to postpone the first test launch of its three-stage Eris rocket by a day until Friday read more An undated handout photo released by Gilmour Space Technologies on May 14, 2025 shows a three-stage Eris rocket seen near Bowen, on the east coast of Australia. AFP An Australian aerospace firm said Thursday it has delayed a historic first attempt to launch a locally developed rocket into orbit, with a jar of Vegemite as its payload. Gilmour Space Technologies said a ground system glitch forced it to postpone the first test launch of its three-stage Eris rocket by a day until Friday. 'The issue was with an external power system we use during system checks,' communications chief Michelle Gilmour told AFP. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD 'We've identified the fix but ran out of time to implement it and fuel the rocket within today's launch window.' The rocket has a multi-day launch window to fly from a spaceport near the east coast township of Bowen, about 1,000 kilometres (600 miles) up from the Queensland capital Brisbane. More from World No radiation leak from any nuclear facility in Pakistan, says IAEA amid buzz after Indian strikes in Sargodha If successful, it would be the first Australian-made rocket to make an orbital launch from Australian soil. The 23-metre (75-foot) vehicle is designed to launch small satellites into low-Earth orbit but on the first launch it will carry a jar of Vegemite – a popular Australian toast topping. Chief executive Adam Gilmour said the firm is not expecting things to go smoothly on the first test. If it orbits Earth 'I would probably have a heart attack, actually, because I'll be so surprised, but deliriously happy', Gilmour told AFP this week. 'We're going to be happy if it gets off the pad – 10, 20, 30 seconds of flight time: fantastic. So orbit is just not in the realm of my belief right now, even though it's theoretically possible.' The rocket design is for a capacity of 100-200 kilogrammes (220-440 pounds), with further upgrades being developed. Weighing 30 tonnes fully fuelled, it has a hybrid propulsion system, using a solid inert fuel and a liquid oxidiser, which provides the oxygen for it to burn, Gilmour said. Gilmour Space Technologies is backed by private investors including venture capital group Blackbird and pension fund HESTA. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD The company, which has 230 employees, hopes to start commercial launches in late 2026 or early 2027, Gilmour said, and then to rapidly grow revenues.
France 24
15-05-2025
- Business
- France 24
System glitch delays Australian-made rocket launch
Gilmour Space Technologies said a ground system glitch forced it to postpone the first test launch of its three-stage Eris rocket by a day until Friday. "The issue was with an external power system we use during system checks," communications chief Michelle Gilmour told AFP. "We've identified the fix but ran out of time to implement it and fuel the rocket within today's launch window." The rocket has a multi-day launch window to fly from a spaceport near the east coast township of Bowen, about 1,000 kilometres (600 miles) up from the Queensland capital Brisbane. If successful, it would be the first Australian-made rocket to make an orbital launch from Australian soil. The 23-metre (75-foot) vehicle is designed to launch small satellites into low-Earth orbit but on the first launch it will carry a jar of Vegemite -- a popular Australian toast topping. Chief executive Adam Gilmour said the firm is not expecting things to go smoothly on the first test. If it orbits Earth "I would probably have a heart attack, actually, because I'll be so surprised, but deliriously happy", Gilmour told AFP this week. "We're going to be happy if it gets off the pad -- 10, 20, 30 seconds of flight time: fantastic. So orbit is just not in the realm of my belief right now, even though it's theoretically possible." The rocket design is for a capacity of 100-200 kilogrammes (220-440 pounds), with further upgrades being developed. Weighing 30 tonnes fully fuelled, it has a hybrid propulsion system, using a solid inert fuel and a liquid oxidiser, which provides the oxygen for it to burn, Gilmour said. Gilmour Space Technologies is backed by private investors including venture capital group Blackbird and pension fund HESTA. The company, which has 230 employees, hopes to start commercial launches in late 2026 or early 2027, Gilmour said, and then to rapidly grow revenues.
