Vegemite Spaceshot: Delays Persist for Australia's Rocket Launch
Rocket Launch Postponement in Australia: Launch Date Pushed Back Once More - Postponement announced yet again for Australian space launch due to technical issues.
Y'all gotta love a good Aussie twist, right? A technical glitch during pre-launch checks caused an Aussie spread - Vegemite - to be the unexpected payload for a moonshot. Gilmour Space Technologies, the team behind this Aussie rocket revolution, ain't too disappointed. Michelle Gilmour, comms director at GST, joked to AFP, "It's tough, resilient, like the Australians."
The launch was first postponed on Wednesday due to the same ol' system glitch. "The issue was an external power supply system we use for system checks," Michelle Gilmour told AFP.
The grand debut of the Australian-built, three-stage Eris rocket was set to take off at a spaceport near Bowen, east Australia. If successful, Eris would be the first rocket to ever lift off from Aussie soil, leaping into the space markets with all the swag of a roo on a mission.
But even the big boss, Adam Gilmour, kept his expectations grounded: "If the rocket actually makes it to space and orbits the Earth, I'd probably have a heart attack because I'd be so surprised but also overjoyed." He continued, "We'd be happy if it just takes off - 10, 20, 30 seconds of flight time, that would be fantastic."
Long-term plans involve the 23-meter tall, 30-tonne rocket carrying small satellites into low Earth orbit. In theory, its payload capacity could reach 100 to 200 kilograms, but the maiden voyage will stick to one humble jar of Vegemite.
- Space Rocket
- Australia
- Spacecraft
- AFP
Lingo Lesson:
- Eris Rocket - the first Aussie-made rocket to carry satellites into orbit
- Gilmour Space Technologies - the Aussie company developing the Eris Rocket
- Bowen - the spaceport where the Eris Rocket will launch from
- Vegemite - a popular Australian spread that made an unexpected trip to space
Fun Facts:
- If the Eris Rocket successfully makes it to space, it would join the exclusive club of spaceships launched from Australian soil.
- Australia's space industry is still in its infancy but has the potential to become a significant player in the global market.
- Vegemite, a staple in Australian households, is made from leftover bread and yeast extract. The unique taste has sparked debates worldwide, with some likening it to saltier, more concentrated Marmite.
The unexpected payload for the Eris Rocket, a spacecraft developed by Gilmour Space Technologies in Australia, was none other than a jar of Vegemite during the launch preparations. Michelle Gilmour, the communications director at GST, humorously compared the hardy Australian spread to the resilience of Australians themselves. Despite the inconvenience, Adam Gilmour, the CEO of Gilmour Space Technologies, remains optimistic, eager for the maiden voyage, even if the Eris Rocket only manages a brief flight before its external power supply system issue is resolved. If successful, the Eris Rocket, which will eventually carry small satellites into low Earth orbit, will join the ranks of spaceships launched from Australia, a significant milestone for Australia's developing space industry.
