Gilmour Space announces first ‘Caravan’ rideshare mission to LEO

Australian launch services company Gilmour Space Technologies will launch a dedicated rideshare mission into Low Earth Orbit (LEO) in late 2024. Unlike most rocket launches which host a primary customer payload, a rideshare launch comprises many customer payloads such as cubesats, microsats and other small spacecraft.

“Called Caravan-1, this mission will provide affordable access to new space customers looking to launch into a mid-inclination orbit at the end of 2024,” said Adam Gilmour, CEO and co-founder of Gilmour Space.

Headquartered on the Gold Coast in Queensland, the venture-capital-backed company is developing Australian rockets that will deliver a variety of spacecraft into LEO; and is expecting to launch its first Eris vehicle from the Bowen Orbital Spaceport in Queensland, Australia, early next year.  The company aims to develop, manufacture and launch Australian-made rockets and satellites that will provide affordable access to space to global customers.

“Caravan-1 will launch in 2024 on our upgraded Eris Block 2 rocket (pictured), which will have a lift capacity of 1,000 kilograms to LEO — a significant upgrade in launch capability and capacity for our customers,” he added.

Caravan-1 customers will also have the option of using a standard 15-inch adaptor port, and/or leveraging on Gilmour Space’s modular satellite platform, called the G-Sat, for individual payloads.

“The next few years are going to be a very exciting time for the global space industry, and missions like this will allow us to support the growth of new satellite and in-orbit technologies that could benefit humanity on Earth, in space, and beyond,” said Mr Gilmour.

Gilmour Space began its rocket program in 2015 and has developed a sovereign capability and ecosystem for launch in Australia. It is backed by several investors, including venture capital firms Blackbird and Main Sequence, the Queensland Investment Corporation (QIC), superannuation funds HESTA, Hostplus and NGS Super; and international investors such as Fine Structure Ventures and 500 Startups.