On July 30, 2025, Gilmour Space attempted a historic launch of the Eris rocket from Bowen orbital spaceport in Queensland, marking Australia's first attempt at an orbital rocket launch in over 50 years.

The Eris 1 rocket, measuring 23 meters and weighing 30 tonnes, experienced a failure shortly after liftoff, crashing back to Earth just 14 seconds after launch due to a sideways slide.

Designed to carry payloads up to 474 pounds to sun-synchronous orbit, the rocket's flight was intended to be a significant milestone for Australian space capabilities.

Despite the crash, CEO Adam Gilmour expressed satisfaction with the launch, stating that it was a significant achievement for Australia's sovereign space capability and emphasized the importance of the data collected.

The company highlighted that the flight data gathered will be crucial for enhancing the reliability and performance of future launches, underscoring the rarity of private companies achieving such milestones.

The mission involved collaboration with various regulatory and operational agencies, and the data from the flight will be analyzed to address the flight anomaly and improve future launches.

The launch faced multiple delays due to weather conditions and technical issues, including a last-minute cancellation the day before due to high winds.

Gilmour Space Technologies has received significant financial support, including a $5 million grant from the federal government to develop its next-generation liquid rocket engine.

Minister for Industry and Innovation Tim Ayres noted that the lessons learned from this attempt will contribute to the growth of Gilmour Space and the broader Australian space ecosystem.

Jonti Horner, an astrobiologist from the University of Southern Queensland, commented on the maturation of the space industry, highlighting the shift towards commercial capabilities in launching rockets.

The launch was executed safely with no reported injuries or environmental impact, and Gilmour emphasized that Australia is now closer to joining the ranks of the six nations that regularly launch to orbit.

One Giant Leap Australia Foundation praised Gilmour Space for their effort, emphasizing the value of learning from failure in the space industry.