Queensland rocket and satellite company Gilmour Space will launch Australia’s first ‘Caravan’ to space in late 2024, carrying a payload of multiple Low Earth Orbiting Satellites (LEO), as part of a ‘rideshare’ launch. model for other startups in space.
CEO and co-founder Adam Gilmour said that unlike most rocket launches that host a primary customer payload, a rideshare launch consists of many customer payloads, such as cubesats, microsats and other small spacecraft.
“This mission, called Caravan-1, will provide affordable access to new space customers looking to launch into medium-slope orbit by the end of 2024,” he said.
“Caravan-1 will be launched in 2024 on our upgraded Eris Block 2 rocket, which will have a lift capacity of one tonne or 1,000 kilograms to LEO – a significant upgrade in launch capability and capacity for our customers,”
The VC-backed space technology startup, which raised $61 million in a Series C in June 2021, is developing eco-friendly Australian rockets to launch spacecraft into low Earth orbit, with first launch scheduled for early 2023 from the Bowen Orbital Spaceport. Gilmour has developed in Queensland.
Gilmour Space Technologies has also signed a deal with Inmarsat, a mobile satellite communications company, to use its InRange product, which provides fast, responsive and cost-effective launch telemetry from space, eliminating the need to build and operate expensive terrestrial launch infrastructure at down-range ground stations. maintained is removed.
“Our Eris rocket, due to launch early next year, will be Australia’s first orbital rocket and the first orbital launch attempt from a commercial Australian launch site,” said Adam Gilmour.
“We are also developing the Bowen Orbital Spaceport in northern Queensland, and it has been fantastic to work with Inmarsat as an established partner to help us demonstrate space-based telemetry for our first and future Eris launches from Australia.”
Gilmour added that in 2024, Caravan-1 customers will also have the option to use a standard 15-inch adapter port and/or use Gilmour Space’s modular satellite platform, the G-Sat, for individual payloads. .
“The coming years will be a very exciting time for the global space industry, and missions like these will enable us to support the growth of new satellite and in-orbit technologies that will benefit humanity on Earth, in space and beyond. can come. ,” he said.
