Australia's rocket ambitions: Gilmour Space eyes a second Eris launch after a hard-won debut

Australia's push to launch its own rockets into orbit is gathering pace, and one company is leading the charge. According to reports, Gilmour Space Technologies is preparing for another attempt to send its home built Eris rocket to orbit, a mission that could mark a milestone for a country still working to establish itself among the world's spacefaring nations.

A debut that ended in seconds

The road to orbit has already delivered one dramatic chapter. According to reports, Gilmour Space launched its first Eris rocket in July 2025 from the Bowen Orbital Spaceport in coastal North Queensland, only for the vehicle to crash back to the ground just 14 seconds after lift off, a short flight that nonetheless carried real significance.

Despite the brief flight, the attempt was widely seen as a step forward. According to reports, the launch was hailed as a success of sorts, because Eris became the first Australian designed and manufactured orbital rocket to lift off from Australian soil, a symbolic achievement even if the vehicle did not reach space on that occasion.

Not giving up

Rather than being discouraged, the company has signalled its determination to try again. According to reports, Gilmour Space has made clear it is not going to give up and has been eyeing a second orbital launch attempt during 2026, drawing on the lessons learned from the first flight and the infrastructure it has already put in place.

Timing such a launch is no simple matter, however. According to reports, conditions in early September 2026 were expected to offer some of the best winds for months, with the launch unable to be confirmed until the day itself and dependent on calm weather, a reminder of how much rocket launches remain at the mercy of the elements.

A funding boost for home-grown rockets

Behind the hardware sits a significant financial vote of confidence. According to the ABC, Gilmour Space received 75 million dollars from the federally backed National Reconstruction Fund Corporation, a sum that was matched by the superannuation fund HostPlus, helping the company secure a total of 217 million dollars in its latest funding round.

That money is intended to turn ambition into repeatable capability. According to the ABC, the funding is set to be used to develop the company's rocket technology and to scale up its operations on the Gold Coast and at the Bowen spaceport, as the business looks to move from one off attempts toward a more regular launch cadence.

The people behind the mission

The company itself is a homegrown story. According to the ABC, Gilmour Space was founded by brothers Adam and James Gilmour and is based on the Gold Coast, where its Eris rocket was designed and manufactured, underlining how much of the work has been kept within Australia rather than outsourced overseas.

Its leadership has been clear about the bigger goal. According to the ABC, chief executive Adam Gilmour said the focus now is on delivering reliable and regular access to space for customers both at home and abroad, a statement that frames the Eris programme as the start of a longer commercial journey rather than a single headline moment.

Why sovereign launch matters

For Australia, the ability to launch its own rockets carries strategic weight. According to reports, developing a domestic orbital capability would reduce reliance on foreign launch providers and give the country more control over how and when its satellites reach space, an increasingly important consideration as demand for satellite services continues to grow.

The Bowen spaceport is central to that vision. According to reports, the site in North Queensland is Australia's only spaceport, giving Gilmour Space a rare piece of national infrastructure from which to stage its launches and positioning the region as a potential hub for the country's emerging space industry.

Eyes on the next launch

For now, all attention is on whether the next Eris flight can build on the lessons of the first. According to reports, a successful orbital launch would be a landmark for Australian spaceflight, and while the challenges remain considerable, the combination of fresh funding, existing infrastructure and clear determination has kept the country's orbital ambitions very much alive as it looks toward the skies.