Gilmour Space Technologies, an Australian company founded in 2013, is preparing for the launch of Eris-1, marking Australia's first orbital rocket attempt in 50 years. The launch is scheduled to take place at the Bowen Orbital Spaceport in Queensland, Australia.
The Eris-1 rocket is designed to carry a payload of up to 300 kg to low Earth orbit (LEO). A future version, planned for 2026, aims to increase this capacity to 1000 kg.
The rocket utilizes a hybrid rocket engine, combining a liquid oxidizer (hydrogen peroxide) and a 3d printed solid propellant.
This design offers safety benefits, as it is difficult to ignite accidentally, requires only the oxidizer to be loaded before launch, and burns only while the oxidizer is supplied. The hybrid system can also be relighted, merging advantages of both solid and liquid-fueled engines.
The rocket's configuration includes:
- First stage: 4 Sirius hybrid rocket engines
- Second stage: 1 Sirius hybrid rocket engine
- Third stage: 1 Phoenix liquid rocket engine
Gilmour Space's Eris orbital rocket prepares for first launch.
Comparison with Other Rockets
| Rocket | Height [m] | Diameter [m] | Payload to SSO [kg] | Payload to LEO [kg] | Cost per Launch |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spectrum | 28 | 2 | 700 | 1000 | ~ $12 million |
| Firefly Alpha | 29 | 1.8 | 630 | 1030 | ~ $15 - $18 million |
| Electron | 18 | 1.2 | 200 | 320 | ~ $8 million |
| Eris-1 | 23 | 2 | ? | 300 | ? |
The Angry Astronaut has previously covered this rocket in a video: Will Australia beat Blue Origin? Gilmour Space heading to orbit before Christmas!.
The launch window for Eris-1 opens on March 31, 2025.
Livestream
No livestream available
Gilmoure Space: gspace.com
Useful links to stay up to date on launches:
Spaceflightnow.com: Launch Schedule
Everyday Astronaut: Prelaunch Previews
Space News:
NASA Spaceflight nasaspacefight.com
TMRO: YouTube