Gilmour Space Technologies

On July 30, the Bowen Orbital Spaceport – owned and operated by Gilmour Space in Australia – officially hosted its inaugural #TestFlight1 orbital launch attempt, successfully proving out ground support systems, launch pad, and safe execution of range operations. Located in Bowen, North Queensland, #BOS is the first licensed commercial Australian orbital launch facility, providing low- to mid-inclination orbital access to global customers. This milestone would not have been possible without the dedication and expertise of many local, regional, national, and international partners. Special thanks to: * Australian Space Agency – for launch facility licence and permit * Civil Aviation Safety Authority – for aviation safety and area approvals * Airservices Australia – for controlled airspace services * Australian Maritime Safety Authority – for maritime safety, AusCoast and NAVAREA warnings * Maritime Safety Queensland – for Notices to Mariners and securité broadcasts * Marine Rescue Queensland, Bowen – for water exclusion zone preparations * Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water – for environmental approvals * North Queensland Bulk Ports Corporation & Abbot Point Operations – for port and logistics support * Queensland Government & Department of State Development, Infrastructure and Planning – for state level facilitation * Whitsunday Regional Council – for local government support and approvals * Queensland Police Service, Queensland Ambulance Service, Queensland Fire Department and Emergency Services & Rescue teams – for public safety support * Bureau of Meteorology – for critical weather and wind data * The #Juru Local Traditional Owners and #Bowen community – for their support, understanding, and partnership in making Australian launch history * Civil Aviation Authority of Solomon Islands & Solomon Islands Maritime Authority – for regional safety alerts * United States Air Force, 18/19 Space Defense Squadron - for launch conjunction assessments   Thank you all for being part of Australia's journey to bridge Country and Space. 🙏✨

Sharing a video of our maiden launch attempt... and a heartfelt thanks to everyone for your support. 🙏 Our team set some clear goals for #TestFlight1 , Australia’s first orbital launch in 50+ years and the first by an Australian rocket: ✅ Achieve liftoff ✅ Clear the tower ✅ Keep people and launch pad safe ✅ Gather as much critical data as possible for future vehicles We hit every objective, even with 14 seconds of flight. And while it ended in smoke, steam, and fire (albeit far less, thanks to our new hybrid rocket tech), it was still a great feat of Aussie ambition and engineering. Time now to dig into our treasure trove of data and lessons as we prepare for the next attempt! Ad astra 🚀🇦🇺

TestFlight1 — 3,2,1… Liftoff Today, Eris became the first #AustralianMade orbital launch vehicle to lift off from Australian soil — achieving around 14 seconds of flight. For a maiden test flight, especially after an extended 18-month wait on the pad for final approvals, this is a strong result and a major step forward for Australia’s sovereign space capability. ✅ Smooth operations through terminal count and T‑0 ✅ Successful autosequence & ignition of all 4 first-stage hybrid rocket engines ✅ 23 seconds of engine burn time, 14 seconds of flight ✅ Successful integrated operation between rocket and ground systems ✅ Liftoff from Bowen Orbital Spaceport, clearing the tower ✅ Flight software & GNC performing as expected ✅ Extensive flight data collected ✅ Safe execution of launch and range operations ✅ From early indications, launch site infrastructure appear intact Most importantly, the team is safe and energised for Test Flight 2. Only six nations launch to orbit regularly using their own rocket tech — and just a handful are working to join them. Today brings Australia closer to that club. A huge congratulations to our tireless team, and thank you all for your incredible support. Onwards to TestFlight2! (More photos and videos to come from our friends in the media.)

Wonderful news supporting our new #Muggera rocket engine program. Muggera means ‘Thunder’ in the language of the #Yugambeh people in the Gold Coast — a fitting name for our next generation rocket engine that will power future vehicles to space! We thank Minister Tim Ayres and the Department of Industry, Science and Resources for backing local technologies, built on years of sovereign R&D and manufacturing here at home. Proud to be part of Australia’s growing #Space sector — building capability, resilience, advanced manufacturing, and global competitiveness. #Thunder⚡️

Proud to have played a small part in supporting some real-life heroes at this year’s #TalismanSabre exercise in North Queensland. Australia’s #Space & #Defence industries are building the infrastructure, skills and sovereign capabilities to support future allied missions — from shipbuilding, munitions and secure communications, to medical delivery, drones, and access to space. Here’s to doing more, together! 🇦🇺 Defence Australia #DefenceIndustry #AusSpace #SAPA

TestFlight1 Update: 🚀 We've scrubbed our July 16 launch window; and are targeting our next approved opportunity starting July 27. Unfortunately, operational delays set us back a day, and the latest upper wind forecasts have now ruled out a safe launch from Thursday through the rest of the week. Not the outcome we hoped for, but that's the nature of test flights. Chins are up and eyes forward — our tireless team is now tracking to 𝗡𝗘𝗧 𝟮𝟳 𝗝𝘂𝗹𝘆! #TestFlight1 #AustralianMade #ErisOrbitalRocket #BowenOrbitalSpaceport

Space is coming to Sydney, Sept 29–Oct 3! 🇦🇺 Gilmour Space is proud to be part of IAC 2025 Sydney and Australia’s fast-growing #NewSpace industry. 🚀 🛰️ 📡 🧑🏻🚀 Come see what’s launching Down Under! Space Industry Association of Australia Australian Space Agency

We’re excited to announce a new partnership with leading Japanese space integrator, Space BD Inc.   Under the agreement, #SpaceBD will offer launch services for Japanese and international satellite customers on our modular #ElaraSat satellite platforms, as well as #Eris rockets launched from our #BowenOrbitalSpaceport in North Queensland. 🚀 🛰️   This collaboration strengthens #AustraliaJapan space cooperation and reflects international confidence in sovereign launch capability from Australia. 🇦🇺 🇯🇵 More: https://lnkd.in/gUKETi8n   #AsiaPacific #SatelliteLaunch #AustralianSpace Australian Trade and Investment Commission (Austrade) Australian Space Agency Defence Australia Department of Industry, Science and Resources

Back in the City of Gold Coast, it was an honour to welcome Deputy Prime Minister & Defence Minister Richard Marles MP, and our local Federal MP Rowan Holzberger, to Gilmour Space.   We were proud to showcase Australia’s growing #sovereign #space and #defence capabilities — from locally designed, built, and operated launch vehicles and satellites, to our fully licensed orbital spaceport in regional Queensland. 🚀 🛰️   New sovereign primes like #GilmourSpace are partnering with Australian industry to advance manufacturing, build national supply chains, and deliver critical sovereign capability and resilience.   We look forward to working more closely with our Govt and Defence Australia to deliver solutions for the nation. 🇦🇺   #SovereignCapability #DefenceIndustry #FutureMadeInAustralia #SAPA Department of Industry, Science and Resources Department of State Development, Infrastructure and Planning Advance Queensland Australian Space Agency (Images: Mark Batakin Productions)