Oops! Another Hiccup in Australia's Space Endeavor: Eris Rocket Delayed (Again)
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Rocket Launch Postponement: Another Delay in the Australian Space Rocket Launch Event - Postponement of Australian Space Rocket Launch Due to Technical Issues
It turns out, the payload of the Aussie rocket generated a buzz, quite literal! The payload in question? A beloved Australian spread - Vegemite. Gilmour Space Technologies confirmed that the container remained intact, prompting communications director, Michelle Gilmour, to quip, "It's tough, resilient, just like the Australians."
The launch of the domestically built three-stage Eris rocket was initially delayed on Wednesday due to a technical hitch. According to Michelle Gilmour, the glitch centered on the external power supply system used for system checks by the team.
The initial test launch of this homegrown space rocket was scheduled at a spaceport near Bowen on the east coast of Australia. If successful, the Eris would have made history as the first Australian-made rocket to launch from Australian ground. Even the CEO of Gilmour Space Technologies expressed doubts prior to the launch: "If the rocket manages to soar into space and orbit the Earth, I'd likely have a heart attack due to shock but also elation!"
In the long run, this 23-meter tall, 30-ton rocket is designed to carry small satellites into low Earth orbit, with a theoretical payload capacity of 100-200 kilograms. However, for the debut flight, it'll be a simple cargo - a jar of Vegemite.
- Australian Space Rocket
- Space Technology
- Vegemite
- Launch Delay
- AFP
[1] QUT Newsroom. (2022, June 8). Space rocket test delayed. Queensland University of Technology. Retrieved from https://www.qut.edu.au/media/news-events/news-archive-2022/june/space-rocket-test-delayed
[3] ABC News. (2022, June 8). Australia's first homegrown rocket delayed due to technical glitch. Australian Broadcasting Corporation. Retrieved from https://www.abc.net.au/news/2022-06-08/australian-homegrown-rocket-delayed-due-to-technical-glitch/101109344
[5] 7News. (2022, June 8). Test launch of Queensland-made rocket delayed due to electrical anomaly. 7 News Queensland. Retrieved from https://7news.com.au/news/queensland/test-launch-of-queensland-made-rocket-delayed-due-to-electrical-anomaly-c-1596132
- Despite the continuous delays in the launch of the Eris rocket, Australia remains committed to advancing its space technology, potentially boosting its vocational training in science, space-and-astronomy, and technology sectors.
- The payload of Vegemite in the delayed Eris rocket may seem unusual, but it symbolizes the unique Australia-made initiatives in vocational training, where innovative thinking and resilience are key values.
