Launch of first Australian-made rocket delayed...

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Australia was all set to make space history today with the launch of its first locally made rocket – but things didn’t quite go to plan.

Gilmour Space Technologies, a Gold Coast-based company, had been gearing up for the big moment: the launch of its Eris TestFlight1 rocket from the Bowen Orbital Spaceport in North Queensland. The mission? To send the first Australian-built rocket into orbit, something that hasn’t happened in over 50 years.

If successful, it would also put Australia on a very exclusive list – only 12 countries in the world currently have the ability to launch their own rockets into orbit.

But today’s scheduled launch hit a snag.

“No launch today,” Gilmour Space said in a statement. The team discovered an issue with the ground support system during overnight checks and decided to pause the launch to sort it out.

They’re now aiming for tomorrow morning, and thanks to a two-week launch window granted by the Australian Space Agency, there’s still plenty of time to try again.

Gilmour Space’s CEO and co-founder, Adam Gilmour, wasn’t too surprised by the delay. He’s said before that setbacks are normal, especially for a rocket’s first flight.

“These kinds of delays can last hours, days, or even weeks,” he explained, pointing to things like weather, technical hiccups, or safety concerns.

“Safety is always the top priority,” Gilmour added. “We’ll only launch when we’re ready and when conditions are right.”

The Bowen Orbital Spaceport, located near Abbot Point, has marine and aerial exclusion zones in place to keep the surrounding area secure during the launch window.

So, while today wasn’t liftoff day, the countdown is still ticking — and Australia’s moment in space could come as soon as tomorrow.

More updates to come on AusNewsLanka.