Australia’s first orbital-class rocket didn’t make it far off the launch pad

In a disappointing turn of events, a privately developed Australian rocket faced critical engine failures just moments after its launch, effectively ending a bold attempt to achieve orbit with the nation's inaugural homegrown launch vehicle. The Eris rocket, towering at 82 feet (25 meters), ignited its four main engines and lifted off from Bowen Orbital Spaceport in Queensland at 6:35 pm EDT (22:35 UTC) on Tuesday, coinciding with 8:35 am local time on Wednesday. However, the excitement quickly turned to concern as the rocket lost power from two of its engines shortly after takeoff. It stalled just above the launch pad before descending into a nearby field, resulting in a dramatic plume of smoke that soared thousands of feet into the air over the remote coastal launch site. Gilmour Space, the company behind the Eris rocket, confirmed that no injuries occurred and assured the public that there were "no adverse environmental impacts" following the incident. Fortunately, the launch pad also sustained only minor damage. Adam Gilmour, co-founder and CEO of Gilmour Space, reflected on the test flight's outcome, stating that he had not anticipated reaching orbit on this inaugural attempt. "I didn't expect that we would get to orbit. Never did. I thought best case was maybe 40 seconds of flight time, but I'll take 14 as a win," he remarked in a conversation with Ars just hours post-launch. Despite the setback, Gilmour Space shared a video capturing the flight, highlighting the successful liftoff and launch tower clearance, considering it a notable achievement for a first test launch. The Eris rocket is designed with a three-stage configuration, featuring four hybrid Sirius engines on the booster, a single Sirius engine for the second stage, and a Phoenix engine for the third stage. The hybrid engines utilize solid fuel combined with hydrogen peroxide as an oxidizer, while the Phoenix engine relies on a kerosene and cryogenic liquid oxygen mix. The rocket aims to deliver payloads weighing up to 670 pounds (305 kilograms) into low-Earth orbit, as outlined on Gilmour's official site.