Gilmour Space says satellite operating successfully following June SpaceX launch

Following the maiden test flight of the company's Eris rocket in late-July, Gilmour Space Technologies has announced the successful in-orbit operation of its 100-kilogram satellite platform, ElaraSat MMS-1 (Multi-Mission Satellite-1.)

According to a statement from Gilmour on Wednesday, it has completed platform commissioning, verified that satellite bus systems are operating as expected, and demonstrated reliable S-band communications and X-band downlink from ElaraSat.

“ElaraSat MMS-1 is designed for multiple missions — and this first flight shows how Australia can build expertise in sovereign satellite technology while paving the way for future missions,” said Mark Grimminck, Head of Satellites at Gilmour Space.

The satellite was launched in June aboard SpaceX's Transporter-14 mission.

The Australian designed and built satellite bus carries a hyperspectral imager from CSIRO.

According to Gilmour, the modular ElaraSat bus can be adapted for missions hosting payloads of up to 30 kilograms, and is compatible with a variety of launch vehicles, including Eris.

Eris’s test flight was from the company’s Bowen Orbital Spaceport at Abbot Point in North Queensland on July 30. The three-stage, 23-metre vehicle achieved 23 seconds of engine burn time and 14 seconds of flight.

“Getting off the pad and into flight is a huge step forward for any new rocket program,” said CEO Adam Gilmour shortly after the launch attempt. 

“This was the first real test of our rocket systems, our propulsion technology, and our spaceport — and it proved that much of what we’ve built works.”

Picture: supplied 

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