Australia's first homegrown orbital rocket, Eris, crashed just 14 seconds after liftoff on Wednesday, marking a dramatic setback for Gilmour Space Technologies. The 23-meter (75-foot) rocket, designed to deliver small satellites into orbit, launched from a spaceport near Bowen, Queensland, in a highly anticipated test flight.

Footage captured by Australian media showed Eris briefly clearing the launch tower, hovering momentarily, before plummeting out of sight amid plumes of smoke. No injuries were reported, and the launch site infrastructure remained undamaged, according to the company.

Gilmour Space Technologies, despite the failure, called the launch a milestone. The rocket’s four hybrid-propelled engines ignited successfully, achieving 23 seconds of engine burn time, including 14 seconds of flight. “Getting off the pad is a huge step,” CEO Adam Gilmour posted on LinkedIn. “I’d have loved more flight time, but this is progress.”

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The company had postponed earlier launch attempts in May and July due to technical glitches and weather issues. Gilmour noted that first-time orbital successes are rare for private space firms, framing the test as a learning opportunity.

Local officials echoed the optimism. Whitsunday Regional Council Mayor Ry Collins called the launch a “monumental achievement” for Australia’s budding space industry, despite the crash. “This is a bold step toward a commercial space future in our region,” he shared on Facebook.

Gilmour Space Technologies, backed by private investors, received a AU$5 million ($3.2 million) federal grant this month for Eris development, building on a AU$52 million agreement in 2023 to boost Australia’s space tech. The Eris test marked Australia’s first orbital launch attempt in over 50 years, following only two successful orbital launches from the country, as reported by NASASpaceFlight.

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