Australian Rocket Launch Thwarted by Premature Payload Ejection

Quick Summary:

No, really: on Thursday, Australian startup Gilmour Space was forced to call off the inaugural launch of its Eris rocket when, just hours before it was supposed to lift off, the nose cone that protects its payload unexpectedly deployed and toppled to the ground, Ars Technica reports.

There aren't photos of the disastrous scene, unfortunately.

As it approached, one half of the clamshell fairing got stuck partially open, resembling, as one astronaut remarked, the gaping maw of an "Angry Alligator".

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Article Details

Author / Journalist: Frank Landymore

Category: Technology

Markets: United StatesAustralia

Topics: Eris Rockets Australia Rocket launch Off World

Source Website Secure: Yes (HTTPS)

News Sentiment: Positive

Fact Checked: Legitimate

Article Type: News Report

Published On: 2025-05-19 @ 14:00:01 (17 hours ago)

News Timezone: GMT +8:00

News Source URL: futurism.com

Language: English

Article Length: 449 words

Reading Time: 3 minutes read

Sentences: 23 lines

Sentence Length: 20 words per sentence (average)

Platforms: Desktop Web, Mobile Web, iOS App, Android App

Copyright Owner: © Futurism

News ID: 28843044

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