Gilmour Space receives first Australian launch permit for orbital test flight

Minister for Industry and Science, Ed Husic MP, and the Australian Space Agency has granted the country’s first orbital launch permit to Gilmour Space Technologies for its maiden Eris rocket launch from the Bowen Orbital Spaceport in north Queensland.

An Australian launch permit is required under the Space (Launches & Returns) Act 2018 to launch an object from Australia to an altitude of more than 100 kilometres. It comes with a number of conditions that must be met before launch as well as a mandatory 30-day notification period. 

Gilmour Space CEO and co-founder, Adam Gilmour, welcomed the news as a major milestone for the local space industry. “With this green light, we will soon attempt the first orbital test flight of an Australian-made rocket from Australian soil. Our team is assessing the conditions of the permit and will advise on the anticipated launch date for Eris TestFlight1 in the coming weeks.”

In March, Gilmour’s Bowen Orbital Spaceport was granted Australia’s first orbital launch facility license by Minister Husic and was officially opened by then-Queensland Deputy Premier Cameron Dick. In September, the company announced it had successfully completed a major wet dress rehearsal of its Eris launch vehicle, progressing the countdown to T-10 seconds.

The upcoming TestFlight1 will be the first of several planned test launches to reach orbit with Eris, which leverages new propulsion technologies developed by the Gold Coast-based company.  

Since starting its rocket program in 2015, Gilmour Space has expanded to more than 200 employees, built a local supply chain of more than 300 Australian companies, attracted significant private investment, gained support from local, state and federal governments, and actively engaged communities across the region.

Eris rocket on pad, photo courtesy of Gilmour Space.

The company’s north Queensland spaceport, one of only a few private orbital launch sites globally, will initially provide access to low- and mid-inclination orbits. Indeed, with rockets and satellites designed and built on the Gold Coast and launched from Bowen, Gilmour’s efforts have been a boon for regional Australia. 

Whitsunday Regional Council, Mayor Ry Collins, said, “The launch approval marks an incredible milestone for Bowen and the Whitsundays region. The team at Gilmour Space have been incredible to work with, and their commitment to engaging Bowen residents in this journey is a model of proactive community involvement. Success here isn’t just about reaching orbit—it’s about positioning Bowen as a key player in Australia’s journey to space. This is just the beginning.“

Gold Coast Mayor, Tom Tate, said, “That’s why we’ve invested in our Business Attraction & Expansion programs—to support businesses like Gilmour Space. This homegrown company is reinvesting in itself and in our city, creating high-value jobs and opportunities for the next generation of Gold Coast innovators. You certainly don’t have to be a rocket scientist to live on the Gold Coast, but if you are, we’ve got a job here for you too!” 

Gilmour Space founders, brothers Adam and James Gilmour.