Gilmour Space Technologies formally unveiled their Eris rocket at their Gold Coast factory on 17 May, with the attendance of Prime Minister Anthony Albanese.
Eris will be Australia’s first orbital rocket and this will be the first orbital launch attempt from a commercial Australian launch site.
"This is a great Australian success story. A company that began eight years ago but now employs 200 people here at the cutting edge of innovation, science, new technologies, and new jobs," PM Albanese said as he toured Gilmour Space's sovereign manufacturing facility.
"You're looking at the first Australian made rocket that will attempt orbital space launch.
"When this rocket goes into space, it will carry 300 companies with it. Australia will become the 12th country in the world to be able to have access to this technology... designed, manufactured and built right here and creating high quality jobs.
"This is one of the companies that we're looking at when we have our National Reconstruction Fund and that whole agenda about a future here made in Australia - making use of an Australian procurement policy to buy Australian and making sure we back Australian science and innovation."
The three-stage Eris rocket will be launched from the company’s Bowen Orbital Spaceport in Northern Queensland. The first and second stages will be powered by a large hybrid rocket engine; the third stage will be powered by a new 3D printed liquid rocket engine.
The rocket stands at 25 metres, has a fairing diameter of up to 1.5 metres, and is planned to deliver a 305 kg payload to low-Earth equatorial orbit at an altitude of 500 km.
“We are proud to have the Prime Minister come see our Australian-made orbital rocket and space manufacturing facility," Adam Gilmour, CEO of Gilmour Space, said.
“Australia must have its own sovereign launch and satellite technologies if we are serious about growing our capabilities in defence, communications, and advanced manufacturing. Gilmour Space is at the leading edge of these technologies.
“The team is working hard toward the first test launch of our Eris rocket later this year from the Bowen Orbital Spaceport in north Queensland. Only 11 nations have launched their own rockets into orbit, and our efforts will help to build a significant dual-use capability for Australia.”