Gilmour Space Technologies rocket fails to launch






Gilmour Space Technologies has failed in its’ latest attempt to launch its One Vision suborbital test rocket from a mobile launch site in outback Queensland.

CEO Adam Gilmour said on the weekend in a letter to investors that seven seconds before launch the test rocket suffered an anomaly that resulted in the premature end of the mission.

Gilmour said: “Initial investigations show that a pressure regulator in the oxidiser tank had malfunctioned, resulting in some damage to the tank and rocket.

“There was no explosion due to our relatively safer hybrid rocket engines, and no observable damage to the engine.”

The regulator was supplied by a third-party.

The launch attempt, on July 29, did prove the company’s mobile launch platform and mission control centre, which had journeyed over 2,000 km to the test site.

Gilmour said the automatic ‘load-and-launch’ ground support system performed nominally through countdown, and switched into safe mode to dilute the oxidiser when the tank was compromised.

“Importantly, our team is safe albeit disappointed not to have completed the mission.

“Whatever the case, rocket engineering is all about testing, failing, learning and rebuilding.

“One Vision was a development and test rocket, and our learnings from here have already informed many of the design features in our next vehicle.”

Gilmour said the company would continue to refine One Vision and develop designs for a commercial launch vehicle.

Gilmour Space has raised $24 million in venture capital from funds including CSIRO-backed Main Sequence Ventures and Blackbird Ventures.

Picture: Gilmour Space Technologies

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