New Gilmour Space partnership will ‘expand launch services to global customers’

Gold Coast-based rocket manufacturer and launch company Gilmour Space and Germany’s Exolaunch announced a partnership on Tuesday covering small satellite launch missions.

The two companies would provide “tailored launch, precise deployment and in-space transportation services” to satellite customers on Gilmour’s Eris hybrid launch vehicles.

According to a statement from Gilmour, the companies would combine their efforts to offer Exolaunch’s Reliant orbital transfer vehicle (pictured) for satellite deployment and in-space transport. Exolaunch gains “access to low-inclination missions and unique orbits” through Australian launch sites and would “begin manifesting customers’ satellites on the upcoming launches of Eris.”

“The need for sovereign launch capability is coming into focus for Australia,” said Adam Gilmour, CEO and co-founder of the Australian company. 

“However, space is a global industry and we’re proud to be working with leading companies like Exolaunch to expand our launch services to global customers.” 

Berlin-based Exolaunch offers customers — private businesses, researchers and space agencies — rideshare launch, deployment, integration and in-space transportation services. It has 13 successful launches, with a total of 170 small satellites deployed so far.

“We look forward to launching customers’ satellites from Australia on the Eris rockets making space more accessible for the New Space industry,” said Jeanne Medvedeva, Exolaunch’s VP of Launch Services

Gilmour plans to begin launches in 2022 and build up to a dozen rocket of them a year by 2025. It plans to offer launches from Abbot Point in Queensland (low- to mid-inclination orbits) and Whalers Way in South Australia (for polar orbits.)

It recently closed a Series C capital raise of $61 million, the biggest by a local space company so far.

Picture: supplied

Subscribe to our free @AuManufacturing newsletter here.