A Helensvale business has taken one giant leap forward in their race to reach space. 'Gilmour Space's' Bowen Spaceport has been granted an orbital launch licence by the Federal Government. http://7NEWS.com.au #7NEWS
I could be wrong, but this seems to be an Orbital launch license for the Bowen Spaceport, and not in any way related to the Eris 1 test flight license?
IIRC, this will be the second orbital launch attempt from Down Under.
I hope to go and see this one.. not far down the road from me.
Quote from: FossilDS on 04/12/2024 04:24 amIIRC, this will be the second orbital launch attempt from Down Under. From my understanding one of Black Arrow attempts at orbit failed, so I think this would be the third attempt at orbit from Australia.
Me too, but I think I’m a bit further away.
We will share more info on safe viewing areas closer to launch for those in the area, but tbh we aren't encouraging ppl to come watch this first launch attempt. 🙏
Pls note date change for #Testflight1, pending Space Agency approval and 30 day mandatory notification period. Stay tuned![Text from image]"Please note our May 4 target date is no longer possible as we await the launch permit...Stay tuned for updates!"
A launch date which never has been published slips to some other unknown date:
It's International Day of Human Spaceflight, and we're taking our 1st steps to (one day!) sending Aussie-nauts to space, from Australia.👩🏽🚀👨🚀🚀🇦🇺#ErisTestFlight1 is targeting to launch NET May 4, subject to launch permit approvals.#AustralianMade #AustralianOwned #CountrytoSky
Gilmour Space Technologies' Eris orbital launch vehicle is the first Australian-made rocket capable of launching satellites into orbit. Given that only 12 nations in the world have the capability of launching its own rockets to orbit, this is a significant achievement for Australia.Our Eris rocket uses a proprietary hybrid-propellant technology that is safer and cheaper and traditional liquid- and solid-fuelled rockets. If successful, it could be the first hybrid-propelled rocket in the world to achieve orbit.Eris's maiden launch, called TestFlight1, will be from Australia's first licensed orbital spaceport. Built and operated by Gilmour Space in north QLD, the Bowen Orbital Spaceport was recently granted the country's first launch facility licence to launch rockets and satellites to orbit.This mission is to flight test the entire vehicle - from our new hybrid propulsion engines, rocket design and structures, software, avionics and GNC systems... to the ground support systems and infrastructure we developed at BOS. It will also carry a test payload for our new micro-satellite bus, which we hope to deploy into a Low Earth Orbit. Our team will use the data collected to improve the reliability and performance of the Eris rocket for future commercial launches.
Interesting that in the FAQ they state that the only road closure is Abbott Point Road. I could be wrong, but it appears that the Bruce Highway is 4-5km from the pad. Isn't that a bit close?Anecdotally at Cape Kennedy NASA keeps people 5.5-6 miles away. The Wallops Island launch viewing area is 7 miles from the pad.
Quote from: plugger.lockett on 05/09/2024 05:32 amInteresting that in the FAQ they state that the only road closure is Abbott Point Road. I could be wrong, but it appears that the Bruce Highway is 4-5km from the pad. Isn't that a bit close?Anecdotally at Cape Kennedy NASA keeps people 5.5-6 miles away. The Wallops Island launch viewing area is 7 miles from the pad.They are a small launch, their rocket don’t have anywhere as much fuel to explode.
Quote from: c4fusion on 05/11/2024 09:36 amQuote from: plugger.lockett on 05/09/2024 05:32 amInteresting that in the FAQ they state that the only road closure is Abbott Point Road. I could be wrong, but it appears that the Bruce Highway is 4-5km from the pad. Isn't that a bit close?Anecdotally at Cape Kennedy NASA keeps people 5.5-6 miles away. The Wallops Island launch viewing area is 7 miles from the pad.They are a small launch, their rocket don’t have anywhere as much fuel to explode.Sure.. but the sight of a rocket launch (or otherwise) over a major highway could be enough of a distraction to cause an accident I'd reckon. Far better to stop the vehicles so they can safely watch!
Launch delayed to no earlier than mid July.https://www.spaceconnectonline.com.au/launch/6223-gilmour-launch-on-hold-as-wait-continues-for-permitGilmour launch on hold as wait continues for permitAdam Thorn27 May 2024Gilmour now believes the first launch of its Eris rocket is unlikely to take place before mid-July.
Quote from: Steven Pietrobon on 05/28/2024 08:45 amLaunch delayed to no earlier than mid July.https://www.spaceconnectonline.com.au/launch/6223-gilmour-launch-on-hold-as-wait-continues-for-permitGilmour launch on hold as wait continues for permitAdam Thorn27 May 2024Gilmour now believes the first launch of its Eris rocket is unlikely to take place before mid-July.Interesting that the rocket pictured that article looks nothing like the Eris rocket in their launch site pics.. What gives?
‘What if a cruise ship got in the way?’ Rocket wrapped in red tapeGilmour Space Technologies, a Gold Coast start-up that designs and builds rockets to carry satellites into orbit, had planned to test-launch its first rocket in early April. But the launch has been bogged down in regulatory paperwork, and might not take place for another six or eight weeks, said CEO and co-founder Adam Gilmour.Speaking at The Australian Financial Review Entrepreneur Summit, Mr Gilmour said the Australian Space Agency had never had to manage such a launch before and kept asking questions “you wouldn’t believe”. “Like, what if a cruise ship comes out of Hawaii and goes in the path of the rocket as it’s going up [from the North Queensland coast]? And how are we not going to hit the International Space Station?” he said...........“We’re not expecting it will go to orbit. But anything in the zip code for 30, 40 seconds will give us a lot of data,” Mr Gilmour said.“We have 400 sensors on the rocket and five different cameras. And so if we can get 30, 40 seconds of flight, we would have validated our guidance, navigation and control, all our launch procedures, and the rocket engines will have to be burning in sync with each other.“That would give us confidence that on the next launch, we will get to orbit.”
The criticism comes despite Gilmour receiving millions in grants, including $52 million from the federal government to lead a space manufacturing network in Australia.
Quote‘What if a cruise ship got in the way?’ Rocket wrapped in red tapeGilmour Space Technologies, a Gold Coast start-up that designs and builds rockets to carry satellites into orbit, had planned to test-launch its first rocket in early April. But the launch has been bogged down in regulatory paperwork, and might not take place for another six or eight weeks, said CEO and co-founder Adam Gilmour.Speaking at The Australian Financial Review Entrepreneur Summit, Mr Gilmour said the Australian Space Agency had never had to manage such a launch before and kept asking questions “you wouldn’t believe”. “Like, what if a cruise ship comes out of Hawaii and goes in the path of the rocket as it’s going up [from the North Queensland coast]? And how are we not going to hit the International Space Station?” he said...........“We’re not expecting it will go to orbit. But anything in the zip code for 30, 40 seconds will give us a lot of data,” Mr Gilmour said.“We have 400 sensors on the rocket and five different cameras. And so if we can get 30, 40 seconds of flight, we would have validated our guidance, navigation and control, all our launch procedures, and the rocket engines will have to be burning in sync with each other.“That would give us confidence that on the next launch, we will get to orbit.”https://www.afr.com/technology/what-if-a-cruise-ship-got-in-the-way-rocket-wrapped-in-red-tape-20240625-p5jogeI'm not quite sure why he thought it would be easy or quick to get permits given the well-documented experiences of SL and ELA (especially if they say they'd be happy with only 30-40 seconds of flight which presumably would dump it somewhere near the Outer Reef!) - but I'm glad to hear they haven't given up, since each day of delay must be costing them and their backers a small fortune.Edit to add:QuoteThe criticism comes despite Gilmour receiving millions in grants, including $52 million from the federal government to lead a space manufacturing network in Australia.https://www.spaceconnectonline.com.au/industry/6250-space-agency-worried-our-rocket-could-hit-a-ship-says-gilmour
“Like, what if a cruise ship comes out of Hawaii and goes in the path of the rocket as it’s going up [from the North Queensland coast]? And how are we not going to hit the International Space Station?” he said.Seems like knowing anything about space or basic orbital dynamics isn't requirement to work for ASA. Gilmour isn't first new space company to underestimate bureauracy. Space maybe hard but its got nothing on bureauracy.
