# Gilmour Space Technologies

Canonical page: https://technooptimist.io/companies/gilmour-space
Queensland company building Eris, the first Australian-designed orbital rocket, and running Australia's first commercial orbital spaceport at Bowen. Founded by brothers Adam and James Gilmour.

## In brief

- Eris made Australia's first orbital launch attempt in over 50 years on 30 July 2025; it fell after 14 seconds.
- Uses hybrid rocket motors (solid fuel, liquid oxidiser) on its first two stages.
- Next orbital attempt, TestFlight 2, targeted for end 2026 to early 2027.

## Facts

- Headquarters: AU
- Status: private
- Website: https://gspace.com
- Frontiers: [Spaceflight](https://technooptimist.io/spaceflight.md) (Small rockets)

## Programs

- [Eris](https://technooptimist.io/spaceflight/eris.md) (Spaceflight): Proto; next: TestFlight 2 orbital attempt (Q1 2027, slipped 12 mo). First flight fell back after 14 s in July 2025; TestFlight 2 targeted end 2026 to early 2027.

## Technical approach

- **Hybrid motors: Solid fuel, liquid oxidiser**: Sirius hybrid motors burn a solid fuel with a liquid oxidiser: simpler than liquid engines, and they can be throttled or shut off unlike solids.
- **Own spaceport: Bowen Orbital Spaceport**: The company built and runs its own launch site at Abbot Point, Queensland, Australia's first licensed orbital launch facility.
- **Liquid upper stage: Phoenix engine on top**: The third stage switches to a liquid engine, Phoenix, for the final push into orbit.

## Open problems

- **Reaching orbit** (active research): The first flight lasted 14 seconds; the vehicle has yet to reach space.

## Upcoming

- **Q1 2027**: Eris TestFlight 2 (Eris)

## Latest updates

- **26 Mar 2026**: Gilmour targets end of 2026 for Eris TestFlight 2, after a suborbital hypersonic test. Gilmour Space said it was looking at the end of 2026 for its second orbital attempt. ([our story](https://technooptimist.io/stories/gilmour-targets-end-of-2026-for-eris-testflight-2-after-a-suborbital-6da31eaf.md) · [original source](https://www.spaceconnectonline.com.au/launch/7019-gilmour-confirms-expectation-to-conduct-second-test-flight-in-late-2026))
- **30 Jul 2025**: Gilmour's Eris, the first Australian-built orbital rocket, falls back 14 seconds after liftoff. Eris lifted off from the Bowen Orbital Spaceport in North Queensland, arced away from the pad, drifted sideways and came down in an uncontrolled touchdown after 14 seconds. ([our story](https://technooptimist.io/stories/gilmour-s-eris-the-first-australian-built-orbital-rocket-falls-back-14-91dc947a.md) · [original source](https://www.astronomy.com/space-exploration/gilmour-testflight1-fails-with-sideways-hop/))

## Partners, customers and investors

- Australian Space Agency (partner): Granted the Eris launch permit.
- Blackbird Ventures (investor): Led the Series A.
- Main Sequence Ventures (investor): Led the Series B.

## People

- Adam Gilmour, CEO and co-founder
- James Gilmour, Co-founder

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