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Australia Poised for First Home-Grown Orbital Rocket Launch

Gilmour Space Technologies prepares to launch its Eris rocket from Bowen Orbital Spaceport, with a ceremonial jar of Vegemite as the test payload.

An undated handout photo released by Gilmour Space Technologies on May 14, 2025 shows a three-stage Eris rocket seen near Bowen, on the east coast of Australia. An Australian company says it aims to make the first orbital test launch of a locally-developed rocket on May 15, carrying a jar of Vegemite as its payload.
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Overview

  • The Eris rocket, a 23-meter-tall, three-stage hybrid-propelled vehicle, is set to be launched during a multi-day window starting May 14, 2025, pending weather conditions.
  • If successful, this will mark the first orbital launch of a domestically designed and built rocket from Australian soil, a milestone for the nation’s space industry.
  • The test payload for the inaugural flight is a jar of Vegemite, symbolizing Australian ingenuity and culture, with the rocket expected to reach an altitude of 200 km before crashing into the Coral Sea.
  • Gilmour Space Technologies constructed the Bowen Orbital Spaceport specifically for these launches, leveraging the site's sparse population and proximity to the equator for optimal conditions.
  • The company, valued at over $600 million, plans to begin commercial satellite launches by 2026/27, aiming to compete in the growing global small-satellite market.