Australian Eris rocket fails 14 seconds after liftoff in debut test flight

Australia’s aspirations for a domestic orbital launch capability suffered a setback when Gilmour Space Technologies’ Eris rocket crashed just 14 seconds after liftoff. The unmanned test flight, launched from the Bowen Orbital Spaceport in Queensland, was the country’s first serious attempt to send a homegrown rocket into orbit.

According to a company statement, the rocket experienced a failure shortly after launch, ending the mission well before any altitude milestone was achieved. The three-stage rocket carried no satellites or critical payloads—only a symbolic jar of Vegemite, a quintessential Australian spread, as part of its inaugural cargo, Caliber.Az reports, citing foreign media.

“Space is hard,” said Adam Gilmour, CEO of Gilmour Space. “SpaceX, Rocket Lab and others needed multiple test flights to reach orbit. We’ve learned a tremendous amount that will go directly into improving our next vehicle, which is already in production,” he added.

The Eris rocket, approximately 25 metres (82 feet) tall, uses a proprietary hybrid liquid-solid propellant system that the company claims offers a safer and more cost-effective alternative to traditional rocket fuels. July 30 launch followed several delays, including technical issues in May related to the payload fairing. Gilmour Space originally aimed to debut the rocket in March, with plans pushed back as the company navigated regulatory approvals and technical setbacks.

Despite the short-lived flight, Gilmour Space remains optimistic. The test was seen largely as a proof of concept for the company’s hybrid propulsion system and launch infrastructure. Speaking to Bloomberg prior to liftoff, Adam Gilmour said, “Success would mean just successfully lifting off the launch pad.”

Founded in 2015 and based on Australia’s Gold Coast, Gilmour Space has emerged as one of the country’s most prominent space startups. The firm recently received a A$5 million (approximately $3.3 million) grant from the Australian Space Agency to accelerate rocket engine development. It is also backed by major investors including Blackbird Ventures and the Queensland Investment Corporation.

“We have quite a lot of investors that are interested in investing in the company,” Gilmour said. “But they’re obviously waiting to see what happens with the launch before they decide to invest or not.”

The failure, while disappointing, is not unusual in the context of early-stage launch vehicle development. Industry veterans note that companies such as SpaceX and Rocket Lab endured multiple test flight failures before successfully reaching orbit.

By Vafa Guliyeva