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Gilmour’s Eris rocket now assembled and ready for launch from Bowen spaceport in Australia

Australian commercial spaceports
Click for original map.

The Austrialia rocket starup Gilmour has now assembled its first Eris rocket in anticipation of its first orbital test launch from that company’s Bowen spaceport on the east coast of Australia.

According to the report at the link, the launch could happen “in the coming weeks,” though no date has been set. Gilmour has already received its spaceport license from the Australian government, but has not yet gotten its launch license from the Australian Space Agency, despite putting in its application two years ago.

It appears there is now a race between this spaceport and the one on the south coast run by Southern Launch to launch first. Both are saying they will launch in mere weeks, but both are also awaiting launch approvals from the Australian Space Agency, which appears to be having difficulties making these first approvals. Either it is dragging its feet, or doesn’t know how to do this yet. Hopefully the bureaucrats will figure out how to say yes to freedom and let these spaceports and companies finally launch, before they run out of cash.

Genesis cover

On Christmas Eve 1968 three Americans became the first humans to visit another world. What they did to celebrate was unexpected and profound, and will be remembered throughout all human history. Genesis: the Story of Apollo 8, Robert Zimmerman's classic history of humanity's first journey to another world, tells that story, and it is now available as both an ebook and an audiobook, both with a foreword by Valerie Anders and a new introduction by Robert Zimmerman.

 

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2 comments

  • Questioner

    To all:

    I would like to point out that if Eris launches successfully, it would be the first hybrid rocket-propelled launch vehicle to place a payload into orbit.

  • Mike Borgelt

    As I said before, great rocket name guys – Eris, Greek Goddess of discord and strife.

    “Hopefully the bureaucrats will figure out how to say yes to freedom and let these spaceports and companies finally launch, before they run out of cash.”

    Don’t hold your breath. The modus operandi of the Australian Civil Aviation Safety Authority is to nit pick hold up certification of any new aircraft until the company is about to run out of cash and then do so and then grant the certificate so that the company has no money to go into production.
    I can’t imagine the Australian Space Agency will be any different.

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