New Year, New Record for Australia's Gilmour Space

New Year, New Record for Australia's Gilmour Space 

Gilmour Space begins main engine tests ahead of its first commercial Eris rocket launch in 2022 ; sets new world record for hybrid rockets. 
 

QUEENSLAND, 20 January 2021 - Australia's leading rocket company, Gilmour Space Technologies, has ushered in the New Year with a successful hotfire of the world’s largest single-port hybrid rocket engine. [See video]
 

“We achieved a record 91 kilonewtons (or 9 tonnes-force) of thrust in this initial verification test of our main engine,” said Adam Gilmour, CEO and co-founder of Gilmour Space, a Queensland-based company that is developing a three-stage rocket capable of launching small satellites into low earth orbits. 
 

“This is the engine that will be powering the first and second stages of our Eris orbital vehicle as it launches into space," he explained. "I'm happy to report that all systems performed very well during this 10-second test. Our team will be going through the results and conducting longer duration and higher thrust tests in the weeks ahead."
 

A leading space company in Australia, Gilmour Space continues to demonstrate key sovereign space and industry capabilities as it prepares to launch its first commercial payloads from Australian companies Space Machines Company and Fireball International.
 

“We are delighted by this successful hotfire test, which demonstrates Gilmour’s progress towards a successful orbital launch in 2022," said Rajat Kulshrestha, co-founder and CEO of Space Machines Company. "Together with Space Machines Company, important sovereign launch and in-space transport capabilities for Australia are becoming a reality."
 

“Many of our Eris launch vehicle components have completed development testing, and the first flight articles are on the manufacturing floor ready for assembly," said Mr Gilmour. "This is going to be a busy year for us; the year we build our rocket.."

Media Gallery

• Video download link for test 90 kN fire
• Video download link (B-roll) - Gilmour Space team prepares for their main engine test program in 2021. 

About Gilmour Space

Australian rocket company Gilmour Space Technologies is developing affordable and reliable rockets that will launch small satellites into low earth orbits from 2022. Since launching their first hybrid rocket in 2016, Gilmour Space has raised AUD 26 million in venture capital funding, signed a Space Act Agreement with NASA, and secured multi-million-dollar launch contracts with Australian and international customers. With more than 60 employees in its Queensland rocket facility, the company is actively partnering with local and global companies, universities, government, and defence organisations to build Australia’s sovereign space and launch capabilities. 

Find out more: https://www.gspacetech.com/ 

Media Contact: 

Michelle Gilmour

Director, Marketing & Communications 

Mobile: +61 433 908 084

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