The first images of a historic Australian-built rocket have been released ahead of its maiden orbital launch this year.
Gold Coast-based company Gilmour Space said it was a month away from the first rehearsal launch in the north Queensland town of Bowen.
"If that goes well then we're ready for launch," co-founder and chief executive, Adam Gilmour, said.
"The only thing we're waiting on is approvals from the Australian Space Agency which we think are coming soon."
Into the space age
The unmanned rocket, named Eris, has been fully assembled with final touches being made to the launch pad and infrastructure.
Weighing more than 30 tonnes and measuring 25 metres, the vessel is designed to carry satellites into space.
It has been in production since Gilmour's rocket program began in 2015.
Mr Gilmour said his team was working towards an official launch in April, making it the first locally made rocket to lift-off from Australian soil.
"It's always tricky with the first rocket in case something goes wrong along the way," Mr Gilmour said.
"With our success going into orbit, we will bring Australia into the space age."
The project has been delivered a major boost after raising $55 million from investors including Queensland Investment Corporation and superannuation firms Hostplus and HESTA.
Mr Gilmour said the investment would allow his team to make at least four launch attempts, but he expected the first trials might not reach orbit.
"This gives us a buffer with our contracts that we've already got to keep going for at least two years," he said.
"Rocket companies around the world spend more than $100 million a year, we've always been very cost conscious here."
Mr Gilmour said nerves were creeping in ahead of the anticipated launch date.
"When I saw the rocket come together last week … it hit me this is real now," he said.
"I can't kick it down the road anymore. We're going to get through it."
Stay tuned for the latest news on our radio stations
