Gilmour Space Technologies

[Steven Pietrobon]

Here's the press release from the ASA.

https://www.space.gov.au/news-and-media/historic-licence-for-queensland-spaceport?utm_source=eDM&utm_campaign=space_agency_sep_2022

Historic licence for Queensland spaceport

5 March 2024
Historic licence for Queensland spaceport

Gilmour Space has been granted a launch facility licence for its Bowen Orbital Spaceport in north Queensland.

The licence, issued by Minister for Industry and Science Ed Husic, is the first for an orbital launch facility in Australia. The Spaceport is located within the Abbot Point State Development Area.

The Queensland-based rocket manufacturer and launch services provider is planning the first test flight of its three-stage Eris rocket this year.

Gilmour Space still requires a separate launch permit for Eris TestFlight 1. It is working with the Agency’s Office of the Space Regulator to demonstrate the launch satisfies the criteria of the Space (Launches and Returns) Act 2018.

The Eris Block 1 launch vehicle contains a hybrid propulsion system for the first and second stages, and a liquid propulsion system for the third stage.

Gilmour Space is engaging with the Juru traditional owners, as well as other local stakeholders, regarding the use of the launch facility.

Update 9 March. I'm not sure what went wrong with the images I attached in my post, but they were not showing up correctly. I've reuploaded them and they now appear to be showing correctly.

[edzieba]

I'm pretty sure the "3D printed grain" was nothing more than a differentiator for marketing purposes.

As with solid motors, there are potential advantages to 3D printed vs. cast grains.
First, grain cavity geometry determines the thrust-over-time curve of the motor. The more complex that cavity geometry, the harder it is to cast (and still get the mould core out).
Second, cast grains need to be inspected for internal voids after casting and setting, whereas 3D printed grains can be inspected continuously during material laydown.
The downside is there is plenty of industry knowledge on and experience of the manufacture and behaviour of monolithic cast grains and segmented cast grains, but not so with 3D printed grains.

[Lampyridae]

Gilmour so far has only published hilarious nonsense launch dates. Now that they say April 2024, I can hardly believe that this is a true schedule (though this date may have helped raising funds).

Is there any indication that they have tested and qualified rocket stages? This is a process which usually takes > 1 year, starting with first hot-fire of the upper stage.

I don’t know enough about historical rocketry to be able to understand the full implications of the hybrid rocket motor as it relates to engine testing and stage qualification. Hybrid meaning LOX plus a “proprietary 3D printed solid rocket fuel”. My understanding is that the point is to have the isp of solid rockets but the throttleability of liquid rockets. But maybe it comes with some of the downsides of solids too.

I am also curious if hybrid thruster designs present different options for in space propulsion. Would be cool if solid cartridges of fuel could be shipped as payloads in missions where isru is planned. Then you only have to worry about making the LOX.

In any case, word on the grapevine is that these more recent NETs are much more plausible.

I have no hard evidence for believing this, but there are indicators - like these notorious BS launch dates, overall unprofessional appearence, and where are the stage tests? With best wishes to all Aussie space enthusiasts that I am sensing wrong here.

I wouldn’t read too much into the “unprofessional appearance”. We Aussies do love keeping it casual.

And if people think that's casual. you should see South African hardware. I think we're culturally encoded to find the ugliest optimal design for *everything.*

(Though this is a Jericho III from Israel repurposed for "peaceful exploration of space" by the Apartheid government and "totally not for nukes", it certainly isn't well looked after )

Edit: seems the photo got eaten by the interwebz

[plugger.lockett]

The Eris launch vehicle has hybrid first and second stages and a kerolox thirds stage. If it reaches orbit, I believe it will be the first hybrid rocket to do so.

Sure, but what I was trying to say is that I'm unsure if they're still 3D printing their grains for the hybrid.

Unless you're pointing the rocket at New Zealand, I think the worst that would happen is that you get a big fine.

I've been told it's a criminal offense. In fairness though, neither one of us is in the position to test this.

[plugger.lockett]

I'm pretty sure the "3D printed grain" was nothing more than a differentiator for marketing purposes.

As with solid motors, there are potential advantages to 3D printed vs. cast grains.
First, grain cavity geometry determines the thrust-over-time curve of the motor. The more complex that cavity geometry, the harder it is to cast (and still get the mould core out).
Second, cast grains need to be inspected for internal voids after casting and setting, whereas 3D printed grains can be inspected continuously during material laydown.
The downside is there is plenty of industry knowledge on and experience of the manufacture and behaviour of monolithic cast grains and segmented cast grains, but not so with 3D printed grains.

I get that, I've got a mate currently experimenting with different 3D printed geometries in hybrid motors. But I'm not aware of any complexity around the Gilmour 3D printed grains, just that they were doing that. It was the closest thing to a "secret sauce" they had at the start of their journey. But nothing has been said about it for ages?
Regardless, I'm not convinced it's a 'game changer', hence my comment about a marketing differentiator. It sounds impressive but doesn't do much more than that. Maybe they can apply some AI to the 3D printing to make it even better for sourcing VC funds? /s

[CameronD]

TSA reduces Aussies to ‘making coffee’, says Gilmour ...but it seems Southern Launch and ELA don't agree.

https://www.spaceconnectonline.com.au/launch/6155-tsa-reduces-aussies-to-making-coffee-says-gilmour

Australia currently has several launch sites preparing to blast off rockets, including ELA’s Arnhem Space Centre in the Northern Territory, Southern Launch’s Orbital Launch Complex in SA and Gilmour’s Bowen Orbital Spaceport in Queensland.

Gilmour’s differs because it will predominantly specialise in providing its own rockets to blast off satellites, unlike ELA’s which is actively signing up client’s own launch vehicles. Gilmour is currently targeting the first test launch of its Eris launch vehicle as early as next month.

Can't wait!  Somebody pass the popcorn..

[plugger.lockett]

ELA and Southern Launch are launch providers without much of a customer base, so it makes sense they'd want existing US launchers to ustilise their facilities here and profit from that activity.
Gilmour is a little different here, but this legislation (in my opinion) doesn't affect them as they're aiming to be a domestic launch provider with their own infrastructure wholly separate from US projects. I don't see how it would interfere with their activities in any tangible way.
I wonder if this tune will change if/when they have Bowen stood up and not a lot to launch from there...

I have my own misgivings about this legislation. In effect it seems to be imposing ITAR on Australian Citizens, which I'm not supportive of at all.

[Int.RocketLaunches]

Countdown: Gilmour quietly steps toward the vertical

https://www.innovationaus.com/countdown-gilmour-quietly-steps-toward-the-vertical/

Gilmour Space Technologies expects to lift its Eris rocket to its vertical position on the launchpad for the first time in the next ten days as the company quietly moves the three-stage launch vehicle toward its first test flight in the coming weeks.

And while Michelle Gilmour is “hopeful” that the company will get a launch permit for the Eris test flight in the next two weeks, she says its in the hands of the Space Agency.

In the meantime, Gilmour Space is on the move on the Gold Coast, consolidating three factory/office and storage spaces into a single headquarters facility.

The move includes the relocation of significant plant and equipment will take place over the coming months with the company expecting to have everyone in the new 10,000 square metre Yatala facility at the back end of May.

[Metalskin]

Well, at least if they grow, Yatala is easy to get to for photos :-)

[CameronD]

Well, at least if they grow, Yatala is easy to get to for photos :-)

And just down the road from the Beenleigh Run Distillery.  Rocket fuel, anyone? 

[Metalskin]

Well, at least if they grow, Yatala is easy to get to for photos :-)

And just down the road from the Beenleigh Run Distillery.  Rocket fuel, anyone? 

More importantly, a stones throw from Yatala Pies. Never quite the same since they expanded, but still damn good!

[c4fusion]

Well, at least if they grow, Yatala is easy to get to for photos :-)

And just down the road from the Beenleigh Run Distillery.  Rocket fuel, anyone? 

Very tempted, but I am definitely coming if they get a launch license.

[Int.RocketLaunches]

https://twitter.com/camerondickqld/status/1775765860550074800

[CameronD]

Well, there's nothing quite like building the place and rolling out the hardware to gain pollies support (the old "build it and they will come").  Something Southern Launch failed to do due lack of money. 

Hopefully this will work for them, because it'll be a mighty big embarrassment if it doesn't.   

[edkyle99]

Once upon a time, there was another company that tried hybrid propulsion.  It didn't end well, unfortunately, though Amroc's work kind of filtered down to SpaceShipOne, etc..  I hope that Gilmour has more luck!  It shouldn't be about the first launch.  Amroc ended not so much because of the test failure but because its founder, George Koopman, died in a car accident, I think.  Also, it was 1989, long before commercial space had leverage.

 - Ed Kyle

[Steven Pietrobon]

Here's a link to a presentation given by Koopman. He died in a car accident in July 1989, before the failed suborbital launch of SET 1 on 5 October 1989 shown in the photos above.

https://forum.nasaspaceflight.com/index.php?action=dlattach;topic=6026.0;attach=17028

Here's a video of the failed attempt!

[catdlr]

Here's a link to a presentation given by Koopman. He died in a car accident in July 1989, before the failed suborbital launch of SET 1 on 5 October 1989 shown in the photos above.

https://forum.nasaspaceflight.com/index.php?action=dlattach;topic=6026.0;attach=17028

Here's a video of the failed attempt!

Stephen,

This animation from the video sure reminds me of some other water pressure-based system being developed by
ARCA SPACE.

Best,
Tony

[Int.RocketLaunches]

https://twitter.com/camerondickqld/status/1775765860550074800

A view of the engine bay:

[MickQ]

I heard today on ABC radio that the rocket has gone vertical for the first time.

[catdlr]

I heard today on ABC radio that the rocket has gone vertical for the first time.

https://forum.nasaspaceflight.com/index.php?topic=60477.msg2584991#msg2584991