Australia’s historic bid to launch its first domestically produced orbital-class rocket ended in a short but significant flight. On July 30, 2025, the Eris TestFlight 1 — developed entirely by Gilmour Space Technologies — lifted off from the Bowen Orbital Spaceport in North Queensland, only to crash back to Earth 14 seconds later, marking the first Australian-built orbital rocket attempt in over half a century.
At approximately 08:30 a.m. local time, the 23‑meter, 30‑tonne rocket soared into the sky with all four Sirius hybrid engines firing as designed. Shortly after clearing the launch tower, it hovered, but technical limitations prevented sustained flight, and Eris descended in a plume of smoke over the launch site. Thankfully, no injuries or damage to infrastructure were reported.
Despite the abrupt end, company leaders and officials celebrated the flight as a pivotal milestone in Australia’s aerospace ambitions. CEO Adam Gilmour stated he was “happy with this,” emphasizing that the mission’s primary objective—to get off the pad and gather valuable flight data—was achieved. Gilmour emphasized that although orbit was unlikely, the launch’s success lay in confirming core systems operated as intended, particularly the ignition of all four engines and safe launchpad clearance.
This mission represented the culmination of a long-planned effort. Gilmour Space faced a series of earlier delays, including electrical and payload fairing failures during pre‑launch tests in May 2025. In one incident, the rocket’s nose cone unexpectedly deployed hours before liftoff due to an electrical system fault during final checks, forcing Gilmour to stand down from the initial launch window. Previous delays stemmed from both technical issues and adverse weather conditions including wind limits and Tropical Cyclone Alfred.
Eris is a three-stage rocket powered by hybrid engines using a proprietary 3D‑printed solid fuel and hydrogen peroxide oxidizer in the first two stages, and a liquid‑propellant Phoenix engine on the third. If successful, it would become the first hybrid rocket to reach orbit. Gilmour has long-term ambitions to enable low-cost satellite deployment services, with Block 2 and Eris Heavy variants under development for heavier payloads and potential crewed missions.
The Bowen Orbital Spaceport, located near Bowen in North Queensland, is Australia’s first licensed commercial spaceport. Eris TestFlight 1 marked the first orbital launch attempt from Australian soil in over 50 years. Historically, Australia achieved only two attempted orbital launches in the 1960s and early 1970s: the WRESAT satellite in 1967 and Britain’s Black Arrow-derived Prospero mission in 1971 from Woomera.
Local officials highlighted the wider significance of the event. Whitsunday Mayor Ry Collins described it as an “important first step” and voiced optimism about the future of space tourism and high-tech growth in the region. Gilmour sees Eris as foundational to building sovereign Australian space capability and says the test provided crucial flight data that will inform upcoming missions—expected within the next six to seven months.
Gilmour Space has received substantial government backing, including a AU$5 million grant in July 2025 and a prior AU$52 million agreement in 2023 to support rocket and mission development. The company now employs over 200 people and collaborates extensively with domestic suppliers across Australia.
While Eris did not reach orbit, it validated critical launch systems, gathered real‑world performance data, and affirmed that Australia is capable of launching its own orbital-class rockets. For Gilmour Space and the national space sector, the flight represented not failure, but a vital learning milestone on the road to future orbital success.
