On the morning of July 30, 2025, history was made in northern Queensland when Australia's first domestically built orbital rocket, Eris, launched from a spaceport near the small town of Bowen. Developed by Gilmour Space Technologies, the 23-meter (75-foot) rocket was designed to carry small satellites into orbit, marking a significant milestone for the nation’s burgeoning space industry.
However, the historic launch was short-lived. Just 14 seconds after liftoff, the Eris rocket crashed back to Earth. Footage shared by Australian media and the company itself captured the rocket clearing the launch tower, briefly hovering, and then plummeting amid thick smoke and flames. Despite the dramatic visuals, no injuries were reported, and the launch site infrastructure remained intact.
Gilmour Space Technologies hailed the launch as a success, emphasizing that all four hybrid-propelled engines ignited and the maiden flight included 23 seconds of engine burn time, with the rocket achieving 14 seconds of actual flight. A spokesperson posted on Facebook that the team was safe and energized for the next test flight, underscoring the progress made in advancing Australia’s sovereign space capability.
Co-founder and CEO Adam Gilmour expressed cautious optimism, acknowledging the challenges inherent in spaceflight. “Space is hard,” he said, drawing parallels to established companies like SpaceX and Rocket Lab, which required multiple test flights before reaching orbit. “What’s important is that every second of flight will deliver valuable data that will improve our rocket’s reliability and performance for future launches.”
Gilmour also pointed out that it was “almost unheard of” for a private company to succeed in reaching orbit on its first attempt, and the company had earlier stated it would consider the launch a success if the rocket simply lifted off the ground. “Of course I would have liked more flight time but happy with this,” he wrote on LinkedIn.
The Eris rocket had been sitting at the Bowen spaceport for more than a year, with previous launch attempts scheduled in May and earlier in July 2025 postponed due to technical issues and adverse weather conditions such as strong winds. The successful ignition of all four engines and the rocket's ability to clear the launchpad without causing damage was a crucial achievement, allowing the company to plan a second test flight within six to eight months.
“Getting off the pad and into flight is a huge step forward for any new rocket program,” Gilmour said. “This was the first real test of our rocket systems, our propulsion technology, and our spaceport—and it proved that much of what we've built works.”
Local officials echoed the significance of the event. Mayor Ry Collins of the Whitsunday Regional Council described the launch as a “huge achievement” and an important first step toward establishing a commercial space industry in the region. “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.
The launch also reflects the Australian government's growing commitment to space innovation. Gilmour Space Technologies recently received a AU$5 million (approximately US$3.2 million) federal government grant to support the development of the Eris rocket. This funding follows an earlier AU$52 million grant awarded in 2023 aimed at advancing space technologies and commercialization efforts in Australia.
While Australia has hosted hundreds of suborbital vehicle launches over the years, successful orbital launches from Australian soil have been exceedingly rare. According to aerospace news platform NASASpaceFlight, there have only been two successful orbital launches in the country’s history before the Eris test flight, which was the first orbital launch attempt from Australia in more than 50 years.
Gilmour Space Technologies also highlighted in their communications that only six major players currently launch rockets to orbit regularly: the United States, China, Russia, India, Japan, and the European Space Agency—a coalition representing several European nations. The Eris flight, despite its early crash, brings Australia closer to joining this elite group.
Looking ahead, the company plans to carefully analyze the flight data obtained from the maiden launch to improve the design and performance of their next vehicle, which is already in production. The second test flight is anticipated within the next six to eight months, likely between January and March 2026.
In a statement on social media, the Gilmour Space Technologies team expressed confidence and enthusiasm for the future: “Team safe, data in hand, eyes on Test Flight 2.” This optimistic outlook underscores the resilience and determination driving Australia’s entry into the competitive arena of orbital space launches.
As the nation celebrates this historic first step, the Eris rocket's brief flight serves as a vivid reminder of the challenges and triumphs that lie ahead in Australia’s quest to establish a sovereign space capability and commercial space industry.
