Eris rocket launch delayed after its nose cone falls off

In Australia, Gilmour Space's first test flight of the Eris rocket was scheduled for early Friday, May 16, 2025. Unfortunately, during final launch preparations the night before, an electrical fault caused the rocket's payload fairing, or nose cone, to detach unexpectedly. As a result, the company decided to postpone the launch campaign to fully investigate the issue and implement necessary corrections. Thankfully, no fuel had been loaded into the rocket, meaning the risk was somewhat mitigated. Gilmour Space is working on a replacement nose cone and aims to return to the launch pad as soon as possible. The Eris rocket stands at approximately 82 feet (25 meters) tall and is designed to carry small payloads of 670 pounds (305 kilograms) into low-Earth orbit. The first launch was primarily intended to gather data on the rocket's performance and its hybrid propulsion system, with a focus on achieving 10 to 20 seconds of stable flight. With the recent setback, Gilmour Space is analyzing the cause of the electrical fault that triggered the nose cone malfunction and determining how long it will take to correct the problem. Gilmour Space was founded by brothers Adam and James Gilmour in 2012 and has raised around $90 million from various funding sources to develop the Eris rocket. This launch was crucial as it marked a significant milestone for the company's goal to be the first all-Australian launcher to reach orbit. However, regulatory hurdles and technology challenges have already caused several delays in the launch campaign. The company remains committed and optimistic about resuming efforts to make space history. With a replacement payload fairing ready for installation at their Gold Coast factory, they are eager to finalize repairs and continue towards a successful launch. The recent incident serves as a reminder of the complexities involved in rocket launch preparations and the importance of rigorous testing and validation before attempting to enter orbit.