Australia, we have permission for
liftoff!
Gilmour Space receives first
Australian launch permit for orbital test flight
November 5, 2024
Minister for Industry and Science,
Ed Husic MP, and the Australian Space Agency has granted
the country’s first orbital launch permit to Gilmour
Space Technologies for its maiden Eris rocket launch
from the Bowen Orbital Spaceport in north Queensland.
An Australian launch permit is
required under the Space (Launches & Returns) Act 2018
to launch an object from Australia to an altitude of
over 100 kilometres. It comes with a number of
conditions that must be met before launch, and a
mandatory 30-day notification period.
Gilmour Space CEO and co-founder,
Adam Gilmour, welcomed the news as a major milestone for
the local space industry. “With this green light, we
will soon attempt the first orbital test flight of an
Australian-made rocket from Australian soil.
"Our team is assessing the
conditions of the permit and will advise on the
anticipated launch date for Eris TestFlight1 in the
coming weeks."
In March, Gilmour's Bowen Orbital
Spaceport was granted Australia's first orbital launch
facility licence by Minister Husic and was officially
opened in April by then-Queensland Deputy Premier
Cameron Dick.
In September, the company announced
it had successfully completed a major wet dress
rehearsal of its Eris launch vehicle, progressing the
countdown to T-10 seconds.
The upcoming TestFlight1 will be
the first of several planned test launches to reach
orbit with Eris, which leverages new propulsion
technologies developed by the Gold Coast-based company.
Australia's Space Coast
Since launching its rocket program
in 2015, Gilmour Space has expanded to over 200
employees, built a local supply chain of more than 300
Australian companies, attracted substantial private
investment, gained support from local, state, and
federal governments, and actively engaged communities
across the region.
Its Bowen spaceport, one of only a
few private orbital launch sites globally, will
initially provide access to low- and mid-inclination
orbits.
Indeed, with rockets and satellites
designed and built on the Gold Coast and launched from
Bowen in north Queensland, Gilmour’s efforts have been a
boon for the region.
Said Whitsunday Regional Council
Mayor Ry Collins: "The launch approval marks an
incredible milestone for Bowen and the Whitsundays
region. The team at Gilmour Space have been fantastic to
work with, and their commitment to engaging Bowen
residents in this journey is a model of proactive
community involvement.
"Success here isn’t just about
reaching orbit—it’s about positioning Bowen as a key
player in Australia’s journey to space. This is just the
beginning."
For Gold Coast Mayor Tom Tate, who
has seen the company grow from a 'shed in Pimpama' to
the largest space manufacturer in Australia: "That’s why
we’ve invested in our Business Attraction & Expansion
programs—to support businesses like Gilmour Space. This
homegrown company is reinvesting in itself and in our
city, creating high-value jobs and opportunities for the
next generation of Gold Coast innovators.
"You certainly don’t have to be a
rocket scientist to live on the Gold Coast, but if you
are, we’ve got a job here for you too!”
November 04, 2024
REDMOND, Wash.--(BUSINESS
WIRE)--World-leading flat-panel satellite antenna
company, Kymeta (www.kymetacorp.com), today announced
the launch of the Goshawk u8, a hybrid geostationary/low
Earth orbit (GEO/LEO/Cellular) terminal. Designed for
seamless mobility, the Goshawk u8 offers a fully
customizable solution that integrates easily across a
wide range of vehicles and vessels, delivering reliable,
network-redundant connectivity on the move, to address
mission-critical requirements for global forces.
As the second multi-orbit,
multi-network, modem-agnostic terminal in Kymeta’s
product suite, the Goshawk u8 builds on the company’s
growing portfolio in the Multi-X market. The Goshawk u8
reflects Kymeta’s ongoing commitment to providing highly
configurable, resilient, and innovative communications
solutions.
“The Goshawk u8 addresses the
increasing demand for high-performance, mobile
connectivity in unpredictable environments,” said Rick
Bergman, President and CEO of Kymeta. “With its
software-defined capabilities, the Goshawk u8 ensures
consistent, secure communications even in the most
remote and rugged conditions.”
The terminal’s multi-orbit
capabilities provide enhanced availability and
flexibility, offering a low-power, low-profile solution
that is easy to deploy and operate. Designed to meet the
operational needs of global defense forces and other
demanding industries, it ensures robust performance in
challenging environments.
With the Goshawk u8, Kymeta
continues to push the boundaries of satellite
communication technology, delivering solutions that
empower customers with always-on connectivity, anywhere
in the world.
Attendees of the Global MilSatCom
in London, UK on November 4th – 7th are encouraged to
visit us to see the Goshawk u8 in person and to speak
with a member of the Kymeta team.
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