Australia’s First Rocket Crashes and Burns Seconds After Liftoff

The primary Australian-made orbital rocket to launch from the land down beneath barely took off for its inaugural take a look at flight, ending roughly 14 seconds after liftoff.

Australian startup Gilmour House launched its Eris rocket for the primary time from the corporate’s Bowen Orbital Spaceport in northern Queensland at 6:35 p.m. ET on Tuesday (8:35 a.m. on Wednesday native time). The primary orbital rocket designed and manufactured in Australia had a less-than-ideal first displaying. Footage confirmed Eris struggling to clear the launch tower earlier than succumbing beneath its personal weight and crashing, ending its debut whereas surrounded by plumes of smoke and a big hearth.

Liftoff accomplished, launch tower cleared, stage 1 examined.
Superior consequence for a primary take a look at launch. pic.twitter.com/EYbNbGDz3l

— Gilmour House (@GilmourSpace) July 30, 2025

“For a maiden take a look at flight, it is a sturdy consequence and a serious step ahead for Australia’s sovereign area functionality,” Gilmour House wrote in a statement. The corporate listed the gathering of flight knowledge, the ignition of all 4 rocket engines, and a 23-second engine burn because the proud achievements of Eris’ first flight, noting that nobody was damage through the launch.

The Australian startup is keen to enter the rising area business with its 82-foot-tall (25-meter) Eris rocket, which is designed to launch as much as 474 kilos (215 kilograms) of payload to a Solar-synchronous orbit. The three-stage rocket is years within the making, however its take a look at flight suffered a number of delays.

Gilmour House, based in 2012, acquired $36 million in funding in February 2024 and obtained its launch license from the Australian House Company in November of that very same 12 months, in keeping with SpaceNews. On the time, Gilmour House hoped to launch its rocket inside months, however its debut was pushed again a number of occasions. In March, Eris’ liftoff was referred to as off as a result of a extreme tropical cyclone. Then once more in Could, the rocket’s payload fairing accidentally deployed whereas Eris was sitting on its launch pad. After fixing the technical situation, the corporate aimed for a launch date in late June, but it surely was as soon as once more delayed as a result of climate.

Australia doesn’t see a variety of rocket motion, though its huge uninhabited lands make it ultimate for launch actions that don’t threaten populated areas. Northern Australia additionally presents direct entry to Solar-synchronous orbits and low-inclination equatorial orbits. Nevertheless, in contrast to space-faring nations, Australia lacks the correct infrastructure for rocket launches. Gilmour House’s Bowen Orbital Spaceport is Australia’s first licensed business orbital launch facility.

Regardless of a short-lived debut launch, the Australian rocket firm is already gearing up for its rocket’s second take a look at flight, in keeping with Gilmour House.