Gilmour Space Technologies welcomed PM Anthony Albanese to their Gold Coast factory to formally ‘launch’ the Eris rocket – Australia’s first home-grown orbital launch vehicle. Gilmour Space is a private Australian-owned company based on the Gold Coast in Queensland.
What does the launch mean for Australia?
“This is a great Australian success story. A company that began eight years ago but now employs 200 people here at the cutting edge of innovation, science, new technologies, and new jobs,” said the Prime Minister as he toured Gilmour Space’s sovereign manufacturing facility, and started a new tradition of signing our Australian rockets before launch.
“You’re looking at the first Australian made rocket that will attempt orbital space launch. Their hybrid rocket engine technology is one of the first in the word to use a combination of solid and liquid propellants. When this rocket goes into space, it will carry 300 companies with it. Australia will become the 12th country to be able to have access to this tech – designed, manufactured and built right here (on the Gold Coast) and creating high quality jobs.”
“This is one of the firms that we’re looking at when we have our National Reconstruction Fund and the agenda about a future here made in Australia – making use of an Australian procurement policy to buy Australian and making sure we back Australian science and innovation. Australia can compete with the world. What we need to do is to back those doing it. This is truly an Australian manufacturing success story, and we want more of them.”
What does the PM’s visit mean for Gilmour Space?
Adam Gilmour, Chief Executive Officer of Gilmour Space, said: “We are proud to have the Prime Minister come see our Australian-made orbital rocket and space manufacturing facility.”
“Australia must have its own sovereign launch and satellite technologies if we are serious about growing our capabilities in defence, communications, and advanced manufacturing. Gilmour Space is at the leading edge of these technologies. Both the State and Federal governments have been great supporters of the space industry here in Queensland, and we appreciate their ongoing support for Aussie innovation, high-tech jobs, and manufacturing.”
“The team is working toward the first test launch of our Eris rocket later this year from the Bowen Orbital Spaceport in north Queensland. Only 11 nations have launched their own rockets into orbit, and our efforts will help to build a huge dual-use capability for Australia.”
