Gilmour Space launched Australia’s first licensed orbital spaceport

In preparation for its rocket launch, Gilmour Space also launched Bowen Orbital Spaceport— Australia’s first licensed orbital spaceport— on April 4. Based in north Queensland, the spaceport will be a key site for launching or receiving spacecraft.

“Australia now has its own road to space. Thanks to the vision and support of our investors, partners, government, and local Juru people and community in this region,” said Gilmour Space CEO and co-founder Adam Gilmour. “We look forward to providing essential access to space to our global customers and their innovative space technologies from the Bowen Orbital Spaceport in Australia.”

Launchpad for Gilmour Space’s global customers

According to Gilmour Space, it’s one of only three launch providers globally with a dedicated launch site, ensuring a consistent launch cadence once the rocket has successfully reached orbit.

“It will be a launch pad for our global customers to deploy their satellite technologies, such as for communications, earth imagery, disaster resilience, water management, border protection and Defence,” said Adam.

Gilmour Space’s 3-stage rocket is now assembled on site in anticipation of its maiden launch in the coming weeks. It can launch up to 305 kg (672 lbs) into low Earth orbit, which is similar to Rocket Lab’s Electron rocket.

Gilmour Space’s powerful rocket engine

Gilmour’s main hybrid rocket engine, Sirius, will power the first and second stages of the Eris rocket to orbit.

Four Sirius hybrid rocket motors will power the first stage. A single Sirius rocket motor, which uses a proprietary solid fuel and a liquid oxidizer, will power the second stage. The Phoenix rocket engine, fueled by rocket-grade kerosene and liquid oxygen, will power the 3rd stage.

The company successfully completed the final qualification test-fire of its Sirius hybrid rocket engine in November 2022. 

The engine generated a record 115 kilonewtons (25,850 pounds force) of stable and efficient combustion. The company claims that this is the most powerful rocket engine ever developed in Australia, and it achieved its mission duration requirement before failure.

Gilmour Space, which started its operations in 2015, now claims to be the leading provider of Australian-made launch vehicles and satellite platforms that will lower the cost of accessing space.