Nose Cone Glitch Wipes Australian Rocket Launch
Published: May 16, 2025
An Australian aerospace firm stated Friday that it has scrapped a historic attempt to send a locally developed rocket into orbit due to a glitch in the nose cone protecting its payload—a jar of Vegemite.
An electrical fault erroneously deployed the opening mechanism of the carbon-fiber nose cone during pre-flight testing, according to Gilmour Space Technologies. The nose cone is designed to shield the payload during the rocket's ascent through Earth's atmosphere before reaching space.
The incident occurred before the vehicle was fueled at the company's spaceport located near the eastern coastal township of Bowen, approximately 1,000 kilometers (600 miles) from the Queensland capital, Brisbane.
"The good news is the rocket and our team are both fine. While we're disappointed by the delay, we are already working through a resolution and expect to be back on the pad soon," said chief executive Adam Gilmour.
"As always, safety is our highest priority."
'Used to Setbacks'
A replacement nose cone would be transported to the launch site in the coming days, Gilmour added.
Weighing 30 tonnes fully fueled, the rocket boasts a hybrid propulsion system utilizing a solid inert fuel combined with a liquid oxidizer which supplies the necessary oxygen for combustion.
If successful, it would mark the first instance of an Australian-made rocket being sent into orbit from Australian soil.
"We have all worked really hard so, yes, the team is disappointed. But on the other hand, we do rockets—they are used to setbacks," said communications chief Michelle Gilmour.
"It is going to take at least a few weeks, so it is not going to happen now," she told AFP.
The payload for the initial test—a jar of Vegemite—remained untouched.
"It's hardy, resilient, like Aussies," she concluded.
Gilmour Space Technologies had to delay a launch attempt the previous day as well, owing to a bug in the external power system used for system checks.
The company, which employs 230 individuals, aims to commence commercial launches by late 2026 or early 2027. After nearly a decade of development, Gilmour Space Technologies is financially supported by investors, including venture capital group Blackbird and pension fund HESTA.
© 2025 AFP
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