Innovative Australian company, Gilmour Space Technologies is one step closer to launching rockets from its spaceport at Abbott Point thanks to an Operational Works approval which was issued by Whitsunday Regional Council earlier this week.
For several years, the space company has been working alongside the state and federal government, as well as local stakeholders, to bring their spaceport to the Whitsundays and this announcement means they are on-track to launch this June.
Mayor Andrew Willcox said the approval will allow Gilmore Space Technologies to commence early works on Australia’s first orbital launch facility at the Abbott Point State Development Area.
“If progress remains on track, then Gilmour Space hope to launch the first rocket from the proposed facility later this year,” said Mr Willcox.
"Bowen is located about 20 degrees south of the equator which geographically makes it the ideal location to actually launch rockets and send satellites into space.
“The construction of the Bowen Orbital Spaceport is exciting for Bowen and will provide an enormous economic and tourism injection for the region.”
From June, Gilmour Space Group plans to launch two rockets per year until 2025, after which they aim to increase launch frequencies to monthly.
Gilmour Space predicts that up to 92 rocket launches annually could be conducted from the Spaceport by 2032.
"It’s exciting to have rockets being launched and there is potential to leverage from this to start the journey making Bowen and Abbot Point a smaller version of America’s Cape Canaveral, the home of the Kennedy Space Center,” said Mr Willcox.
"The new $4 million Flagstaff Hill Cultural and Conference Centre in Bowen is the perfect vantage point and looks straight across to the launch site.”
The rockets will be manufactured at Gilmour's Gold Coast manufacturing hub before being transported to the Bowen launch site.
It is anticipated that the rockets will transport small satellites low-Earth orbit.
They will be used as part of broadband internet constellations.
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