Whitsunday Regional Councillors joined Acting Mayor John Collins for a tour of progress at the Gilmour Space Technologies Bowen Orbital Spaceport last Wednesday
Gilmour Space Launch Operations Supervisor Adam Williams thanked council for its support and told Councillors all was on track for the first rocket launch later this year.
Construction on the orbital launch facility – one of Australia’s first - at the Abbott Point State Development Area is well underway with contractors working on the construction shed and launch pad.
Councillor Mike Brunker said that the site was still working through its approval processes, but was looking extremely exciting.
“What was very interesting were the figures on how it actually propels up into space and how fast it’s going – I’m no space cadet but it had me wrapped,” Councillor Brunker said.
“It’s exciting times for our space launch facility, and I can see myself watching from up on Flagstaff Hill with a beer while a rocket launches.”
The rockets will be manufactured at Gilmour's Gold Coast manufacturing hub before being transported to the Bowen launch site.
Gilmour Space predicts that up to 92 rocket launches annually could be conducted from the Spaceport by 2032.
When the facility becomes operational, rockets carrying small satellites will be the most common item launched into low-Earth orbit.
Satellites forming part of broadband internet constellations are expected to make up a sizeable part of those launches.
Whitsunday Regional Councillors visited the Gilmour Space Technologies Bowen Orbital Spaceport last Wednesday
