Author Topic: Gilmour Space Technologies (Read 221468 times)

plugger.lockett · « **Reply #80 on:** 07/19/2019 03:59 am »

Quote from: CameronD on 07/19/2019 02:44 am

Quote from: Tywin on 07/19/2019 01:44 am
Well the moment has come!!!

Gold Coast space race?? With no recent noises from Black Sky, it's more of a one-horse race at present..

Let's not count horses until one is launched...

Steven Pietrobon · « **Reply #81 on:** 07/19/2019 05:11 am »

"A Gold Coast space exploration company says it is just days away from launching its new rocket into space. Gilmour Space Technologies has performed the final dry run of the rocket which it plans to launch in Western Queensland. #7NEWS"

https://twitter.com/7NewsBrisbane/status/1151773048577519616

Steven Pietrobon · « **Reply #82 on:** 07/19/2019 05:13 am »

From the above tweet, launching later this month.

Steven Pietrobon · « **Reply #83 on:** 07/19/2019 05:16 am »

"The Gold Coast space race is almost in full flight! @GilmourSpace Technologies carried out final tests at Pimpama today before literally shooting for the stars. @njkelly9 #9News"

https://twitter.com/9NewsGoldCoast/status/1151759245701812224

Steven Pietrobon · « **Reply #84 on:** 07/19/2019 05:17 am »

From the above tweet, using tennis balls to protect the fin tips and control room inside a shipping container.

Steven Pietrobon · « **Reply #85 on:** 07/19/2019 05:23 am »

New video showing One Vision preparation.

https://video.wixstatic.com/video/9296f8_315012e9f9e249a490759ebc76c4ade0/720p/mp4/file.mp4

Mammutti · « **Reply #86 on:** 07/19/2019 08:11 am »

According to this article, the first launch is scheduled for 28 July.

https://www.businessnewsaus.com.au/articles/gilmour-space-tech-counts-down-to-momentous-rocket-launch.html

Quote

Brothers James and Adam Gilmour will lead the convoy that takes the One Vision rocket from GST's headquarters in Pimpama to its launch location around 1700km from the Gold Coast, near Mount Isa.

Weather permitting, the team will push the proverbial 'red button' on Sunday 28 July.

Steven Pietrobon · « **Reply #87 on:** 07/20/2019 05:07 am »

From the article

"I think the only other similar hybrid rocket using hydrogen which was built by Australia was launched some time ago, it's a really exciting time for us."

I believe that should be "hydrogen peroxide". Not sure which hydrid rocket he is referring to, but maybe he is referring to the Black Knight orbital vehicle, where the first and second stage used HTP. That's not a hybrid rocket though and could be the reporter misquoting what was said.

Steven Pietrobon · « **Reply #88 on:** 07/28/2019 02:29 am »

Found a NOTAM for the launch of One Vision. Launch period is from 27 July 21:00 UTC to 31 July 05:00 UTC. There was a report the launch was to be today (28 July), but Gilmour has been totally silent. Launch site is in Marion Downs, Queensland. Google Maps shows the location as an old cemetery! The closest town seems to be Boulia, at the western edge of Queensland. The satellite view shows the launch site is near some dirt tracks and two artificial ponds.

https://www.google.com.au/maps/place/23%C2%B019'24.0%22S+139%C2%B016'42.0%22E/@-22.1405075,137.8098191,6z/data=!4m5!3m4!1s0x0:0x0!8m2!3d-23.3233333!4d139.2783333?hl=en

Marion Downs is a pastoral property, used for cattle grass finishing.

https://www.napco.com.au/marion-downs/

"D2617/19 - TEMPO RESTRICTED AREA ACT
WI 19NM RADIUS OF PSN S23 19.4 E139 16.7 (MARION DOWNS, QUEENSLAND)
BRG 130 MAG 36NM FM GLENORMISTON AD (YGLO)
DUE TO HIGH POWERED ROCKET LAUNCHING TO MAX HEIGHT 40KM (FL1310)
NO FLIGHT PERMITTED WITHOUT APPROVAL OF CONTROLLING AUTHORITY
GILMOUR SPACE TECHNOLOGIES CTC TEL: 0424 271 086. SFC - UNL, 27 JUL 21:00 2019
UNTIL 31 JUL 05:00 2019 ESTIMATED. CREATED: 26 JUL 03:14 2019"

plugger.lockett · « **Reply #89 on:** 07/30/2019 06:31 am »

Quote from: Steven Pietrobon on 07/28/2019 02:29 am

Found a NOTAM for the launch of One Vision. Launch period is from 27 July 21:00 UTC to 31 July 05:00 UTC. There was a report the launch was to be today (28 July), but Gilmour has been totally silent....

"D2617/19 - TEMPO RESTRICTED AREA ACT
WI 19NM RADIUS OF PSN S23 19.4 E139 16.7 (MARION DOWNS, QUEENSLAND)
BRG 130 MAG 36NM FM GLENORMISTON AD (YGLO)
DUE TO HIGH POWERED ROCKET LAUNCHING TO MAX HEIGHT 40KM (FL1310)
NO FLIGHT PERMITTED WITHOUT APPROVAL OF CONTROLLING AUTHORITY
GILMOUR SPACE TECHNOLOGIES CTC TEL: 0424 271 086. SFC - UNL, 27 JUL 21:00 2019
UNTIL 31 JUL 05:00 2019 ESTIMATED. CREATED: 26 JUL 03:14 2019"

Hi Steven,

I've signed up to NAIPS and had a look at the NOTAMs for Brisbane, Mt. Isa, and Marion Downs (YBBB, YMBA, YMWX respectively) and I can't see the NOTAM. I expected I would considering the NOTAM you posted above was valid until 31 July. Am I doing this wrong or has the NOTAM been met/pulled? I can see the following rocket related NOTAM but 350ft AGL isn't really what Gilmour is after.

C991/19
MODEL ROCKET LAUNCHING WI 60M RADIUS OF PSN 273005S 1530041E
(UNIVERSITY OF QUEENSLAND, UQ OVAL)
BRG 255 MAG 1.2NM FM PRINCESS ALEXANDRA HOSPITAL HELIPAD (YPRI)
OPR CTC TEL: 0432 503 517
SFC TO 350FT AGL
FROM 08 020300 TO 08 020400

Steven Pietrobon · « **Reply #90 on:** 07/30/2019 07:27 am »

I used PilotWeb to find the NOTAM using their Latitude/Longitude Radius Search option. The NOTAM is now no longer showing, indicating that the NOTAM has been pulled. I guess this means that there was either a launch failure (and Gilmour do not want to publicise it) or there was some problem (vehicle or weather) that has caused an indefinite delay. We'll just have to wait and see if Gilmour makes some kind of statement in the next few weeks.

https://pilotweb.nas.faa.gov/PilotWeb/

plugger.lockett · « **Reply #91 on:** 07/30/2019 08:00 am »

Thanks Steven. That's what I expected, just wanted to make sure I didn't mess up the lookup!

Jcc · « **Reply #92 on:** 07/30/2019 10:25 pm »

Any guess as to why they are launching from Western Queensland and not the coast? Presumably they will launch east to make it to orbit?

TrevorMonty · « **Reply #93 on:** 07/30/2019 11:30 pm »

Quote from: Jcc on 07/30/2019 10:25 pm

Any guess as to why they are launching from Western Queensland and not the coast? Presumably they will launch east to make it to orbit?

Suborbital launch, straight up and down.

plugger.lockett · « **Reply #94 on:** 07/31/2019 04:57 am »

Quote

One Vision statement
Message from the CEO, Adam Gilmour

On Monday July 29, Gilmour Space Technologies attempted to launch our ‘One Vision’ suborbital rocket to flight test our proprietary orbital-class hybrid rocket engine and to demonstrate our mobile launch capability.

At T-7 seconds to launch, the test rocket suffered an anomaly that resulted in the premature end of this mission. Initial investigations show that a pressure regulator in the oxidiser tank had failed to maintain required pressure, and this anomaly resulted in some damage to the tank and rocket. There was no explosion due to the safe nature of hybrid rocket engines, and no observable damage to the engine. (We will share footage of the launch attempt when available.)

Despite failing to launch, our team successfully tested the mobile launch platform and mission control centre, which had journeyed over 1,800 km to the test site. The automatic ‘load-and-launch’ ground support system performed nominally through countdown, and went automatically into safe mode to dilute the oxidiser when the tank was compromised. With this mobile launch system, we have the capability to launch a light orbital vehicle from anywhere in Australia.

Our team is safe and understandably disappointed not to have completed the mission. It was a third-party component that failed and we will be following up on the matter with them. In any case, rocket engineering is all about testing, failing, learning and rebuilding. One Vision was a development and test rocket, and our learnings from here have already informed many of the design features in our next vehicle.

Gilmour Space will now look to launch an enhanced version of this suborbital rocket in the near future, to test more of the technologies we will require for our orbital launches.

We appreciate your continued support as we work to build a safe and reliable road to space for the next generation of small satellites in LEO.

To our team who worked tirelessly on One Vision, please know that James and I are proud of the amazing work you have done so far, and we look forward to achieving more and greater things together.

To the stars.

https://www.gspacetech.com/post/one-vision-statement

Steven Pietrobon · « **Reply #95 on:** 07/31/2019 06:14 am »

Sounds like a helium pressure regulator to the HTP tank failed and over pressurised the HTP tank. Will be interesting to see the video once they show that.

I found these photos at the site. The third photo shows One Vision at its launch site. I've brightened up the picture a little.

https://www.gspacetech.com/update

Steven Pietrobon · « **Reply #96 on:** 08/01/2019 02:01 am »

Gilmour have updated the launch vehicle configuration. They now have two versions, Eris-S (180 kg to SSO) and Eris-L (450 kg to SSO). The first and second stages are 1.5 m in diameter and the third stage 1.2 m in diameter. We can see four nozzles on the first stage, each producing 80 kN of thrust using a hybrid HTP/ABS motor. If we assume the white areas are the HTP tank, the second stage HTP tank is about half the length of the first stage HTP tank, probably indicating two motors are being used. I estimate the maximum diameter of each hybrid motor to be 150/(1+sqrt(2)) = 62.1 cm. For the third stage, which is 1.2 m in diameter, they might be using a shortened version of the 80 kN motor.

I'm not sure how they are going to pressurise the HTP tank. They could use helium bottles placed in the spaces left in the motor section. The middle section and four outer sections all have the same diameter of 62.1*(sqrt(2)-1) = 25.7 cm.

https://www.gspacetech.com/launch

Steven Pietrobon · « **Reply #97 on:** 08/05/2019 06:47 am »

Video showing their launcher/transporter arriving back home. "All Orbits. All Planets."

https://www.facebook.com/gilmourspacetech/videos/2515801765372722/

Steven Pietrobon · « **Reply #98 on:** 08/05/2019 06:48 am »

Email update. New photos attached.

https://shoutout.wix.com/so/b9MnPv8-H?cid=6accd168-ec60-445d-a6c7-27c69ca73978#/main

QuantumG · « **Reply #99 on:** 08/05/2019 07:17 am »

One of the many advantages of not using a cryogenic propellant is that you can pressurise with nitrogen.

I think a lot of people would be amused if they get to orbit with hybrid engines, HTP is just bonus points