Above is Gilmour Space's Eris-1 rocket at the Bowen Orbital Spaceport in Queensland, Australia. A rocket that size has long range dual-use missile potential. The photo from Gilmour's February 3, 2025 Media Release.
Gilmour Space Technologies' first orbital launch, of its Eris-1 rocket, is expected to take place in early 2025. The launch will take place from the Bowen Orbital Spaceport in far north Queensland, Australia.
Why the delay?
- The launch was delayed to allow for additional testing and verification
https://www.innovationaus.com/countdown-gilmour-space-closes-in-on-testflight-one-mission/ - The company wanted to give its team a break over Christmas
- The company wanted to ensure mission safety and success
About the Eris-1 rocket
- The Eris-1 is a small orbital launch vehicle that can carry payloads of up to 305 kg into low earth orbit [scroll down here https://www.gspace.com/launch ]
- It has three stages and uses hybrid propulsion technologies
- The Eris-1 is 23 meters in length and has a mass of 34 tonnes at lift off
About the launch permit
- The Australian Government issued Gilmour Space Technologies with an Australian launch permit in November 2024 https://spacenews.com/gilmore-space-secures-license-for-first-orbital-launch/
- This permit is the first ever issued by the Australian Government for a commercial orbital launch vehicle
Pete Comment
It is probably just coincidental that the 2m diameter of Eris-1's first (ie. lowest) stage (scroll down here) is almost identical to the 2.11 diameter of the first stage of a Trident II submarine launched ballistic missile (see right sidebar).
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