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The first-ever launch of an Australian-made rocket from North Queensland, aiming to mark a historical moment, has been postponed due to an unforeseen problem.
Gold Coast’s Gilmour Space Technologies spent several years gearing up to send its Eris TestFlight1 rocket into the skies from the Orbital Spaceport at Bowen.
It is the first Australian-made rocket to attempt orbit and Australia’s first orbital launch in more than 50 years.
Only 12 countries have the ability to launch their own rockets into orbit.
The maiden flight was scheduled for this morning, but could not go ahead due to an issue in the ground support system.
“No launch today. Our team found a problem in the ground support system during overnight inspections, and we are now in a prolonged hold as we address the issue,” Gilmour Space announced in an update.
Eris is now set to launch tomorrow morning.
The Australian Space Agency has given the company a two-week launch window from today.
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Gilmour Space chief and co-founder Adam Gilmour had previously warned that delays and issues are common for rocket launches, especially for first launches.
“These can last anywhere from hours to days, or even weeks, and are often caused by weather conditions, technical issues, or other factors,” he said.
“Safety is always the top priority. We’ll only launch when we’re ready, and when conditions are appropriate.”
The Bowen Orbital Spaceport is near Abbot Point.
A marine and aerial exclusion zone is in place in and around the area for the launch.
