2026.04.08 | 76th International Astronautical Congress 2025 - Part 4

The episode opens with a quick update on Artemis II, the first crewed mission to travel beyond low‑Earth orbit since Apollo. After a flawless translunar injection, commander Reid Wiseman captured the iconic "Hello World" photo, showing Earth lit by moonlight and stars in the background. NASA now plans a Pacific splashdown near San Diego on April 10, with the crew to be recovered by the USS John P Meredith. This milestone underscores renewed lunar ambitions and provides a vivid reminder of the commercial and scientific opportunities that follow a successful return.

Adam Gilmore, CEO of Gilmore Space Technologies, then shares hard‑won lessons from developing the ERA One rocket at the 2025 International Astronautical Congress. He emphasizes the mantra "test like you fly," recounting a sub‑orbital failure caused by a delayed pressure‑sensor signal. Starting with a hybrid test vehicle, the company scaled up through incremental engine upgrades, strategic funding rounds, and a bold decision to build Australia’s first government‑approved orbital launch site on a former cow paddock in Queensland. Regulatory hurdles—24 permits spanning aviation, maritime, and environmental agencies—added years to the schedule, highlighting the need for dedicated compliance resources in emerging space nations.

Gilmore positions his firm in the growing small‑satellite launch market, arguing that demand outpaces supply and that a 737‑sized launcher can serve niche customers more efficiently than SpaceX’s Falcon 9 "A380" model. By keeping development costs low, leveraging non‑engineer financial expertise, and focusing on rapid, affordable access, Gilmore aims to fill the gap for 100‑kilogram class payloads. The discussion illustrates how Australia’s nascent launch ecosystem, bolstered by venture capital and government grants, can compete globally if it streamlines permitting, embraces iterative testing, and targets the expanding constellation of commercial satellites.