Australian Rocket Launch Disrupted by a Cockatoo

Australia’s first attempt to launch a domestically built orbital rocket was unexpectedly delayed — apparently due to a parrot.

On May 16, 2025, the Eris rocket, developed by Gilmour Space Technologies, was set to launch into orbit. But just before liftoff, its payload fairings unexpectedly detached.

According to the developers, a power surge may have triggered the mechanism prematurely. Footage from the launch pad shows a large white cockatoo tugging at ground cables. As the company put it: “Not saying this is the root cause of our electrical issues... but we’re not ruling him out!”

An investigation is ongoing, and Gilmour is required to submit a report to the national regulator. For now, the bird’s cameo appearance isn’t considered conclusive evidence.

The Eris rocket is designed to deliver up to 300 kg of payload into a 200 km orbit. It features three stages: the first two powered by hybrid Sirius engines, and the third by a liquid-fuel Phoenix engine — all developed in-house by Gilmour.

If completed, the project would mark a milestone: Australia’s first homegrown orbital launch vehicle and a step toward sovereign satellite deployment. Until now, the country has relied on the U.S. and U.K. for access to space. These capabilities are especially valuable today, in an era of compact, high-performance space tech designed for practical missions from low Earth orbit.