On Wednesday morning, Australia moved one very important step closer to developing a robust national space industry. For a first test with a brand new rocket, the picture could not have been more different. It marked the first time a private company had built an Australian 23-metre (75-foot) rocket, which sat atop a lightly-staffed rocket. It was Australia’s first orbital launch attempt in more than 50 years. Unfortunately, only 14 seconds into the flight, the rocket crashed back to earth.
The nation has experienced hundreds of suborbital vehicle launches during this time. Worth noting, of these only two have made it to orbit successfully. This recent shot on goal was intended to help make that story a reality and push Australia further along in the global space race. Adam Gilmour, CEO of the company behind Wednesday’s launch, said it was an opportunity to find a silver lining in the smoke.
Launch Details
The rocket, powered by four hypergolic engines, made a complete ignition of the heavy-lift rocket at take-off. It narrowly cleared the launch tower and hovered in full view for just a moment, before plummeting out of sight. It was a short flight of only 14 seconds with an engine burn time of just 23 seconds. As Gilmour was quick to point out, this accomplishment represents a huge milestone for any private enterprise seeking to reach orbit on its maiden try.
“Of course I would have liked more flight time but happy with this,” – Adam Gilmour
The initial launch received strong support from the federal government that issued a grant agreement of AU$52 million to launch in 2023. This investment will boost the development and commercialization of cutting-edge space technologies in Australia. Most importantly, it illustrates the government’s broad commitment to fostering a vibrant domestic space industry.
Community Response
Reactions from local officials underscore how impactful this launch attempt could be for the region’s development. Ry Collins, Mayor of the Whitsunday Regional Council, called the event a “massive success.” He explained its unique ability to open up new economic possibilities for the entire region.
“This is an important first step towards the giant leap of a future commercial space industry right here in our region,” – Ry Collins
The local community has long anticipated advancements in space exploration and technology, with hopes that successful launches could attract investment and create jobs. There is a palpable feeling of optimism among us about what future pursuits might bring.
Future Prospects
Even though Wednesday’s launch didn’t do everything it set out to do, it marks an exciting and important first step on which Australian space ventures can build. This commitment to advance new space technologies and infrastructure means that more ambitious attempts are surely on the horizon.
Australia is poised to take great leaps forward in national and international space exploration. Both federal and private investments are pushing this ambitious effort forward. Gilmour’s company and others are hard at work improving their technologies. That magnetizes them to successful orbital launch capabilities that completely reshape what the nation’s role is within the international space community.
