Australian rocket launch wiped off by nose cone problem

Sharjah24 - AFP: An Australian aerospace company announced on Friday that it has canceled a significant attempt to launch a locally developed rocket into orbit due to a glitch in the nose cone protecting its payload—a jar of Vegemite.

Technical glitch detected

Gilmour Space Technologies reported that an electrical fault mistakenly triggered the opening mechanism of the carbon-fibre nose cone during pre-flight testing. This nose cone is crucial for shielding the payload during the rocket's ascent through the Earth's atmosphere.

Incident overview

The mishap occurred before the vehicle was fueled at the company’s spaceport near Bowen, approximately 1,000 kilometers (600 miles) north of Brisbane. Gilmour's CEO, Adam Gilmour, reassured that both the rocket and the team are safe, expressing disappointment but emphasising safety as the top priority.

Moving forward

The team will work to identify the issue with the 23-meter (75-foot) Eris rocket, designed for launching satellites into low-Earth orbit. A replacement nose cone is expected to be transported to the launch site shortly.

Rocket specifications

The fully fueled rocket weighs 30 tonnes and features a hybrid propulsion system that uses solid inert fuel and a liquid oxidizer. If successful, this launch would mark the first time an Australian-made rocket is sent into orbit from Australian soil.

Team resilience

Communications chief Michelle Gilmour acknowledged the team's disappointment but noted that setbacks are common in rocket development. The initial launch attempt had also been delayed a day prior due to a bug in the external power system.

Future plans

Gilmour Space Technologies, with a workforce of 230 employees, aims to commence commercial launches by late 2026 or early 2027. The company has been developing rockets for a decade and is supported by investors, including venture capital group Blackbird and pension fund HESTA.