Gilmour Space Again Delays Eris Rocket Test Flight
Company Wants a 'Longer, More Flexible' Launch Window for the First Flight
Australian launch company Gilmour Space has again scrubbed its planned first test flight of its new, orbital-class Eris rocket.
In a statement posted on the company website, Gilmour Space said that they had made the "tough call to postpone this week’s launch. This pause to give us a longer, more flexible launch window for our first test flight, and our team a chance to rest after an intense few weeks of testing and prep."
The company said that its new target launch date ... potentially next week ... will depend on weather conditions and green light from regulators. That date has not yet been announced.
The launch has been on hold since May, when a payload fairing system malfunctioned on the launch pad, causing a fairing to dislodge from the spacecraft. The problem was traced to an unexpected power surge, caused by electrical backfeed from downstream devices.
​While shutdowns are a normal part of launch operations, this issue didn’t appear during previous tests. That’s because the fairing separation system is single-use and isn’t activated to maintain its reliability and ensure safety.
The company says it has installed additional safeguards to prevent this from happening again.