First Orbital Test Flight of an Australian-Made Rocket Cleared for Takeoff

Given only 12 nations in the world have the capability of launching their own rockets to orbit, this is a significant achievement for Australia.

The Eris on the launchpad at Bowen in Queensland. Zaid Dillon/Gilmour Space

Gold Coast-based Gilmour Space Technologies is set to go where no one has gone before; well, no one in Australia, anyway.

It’s cleared the final hurdle to launching the first Australian-made rocket from Australian soil with the announcement by the Minister for Industry and Science, Ed Husic, that the Australian Space Agency has granted the country’s first launch permit.