‘We have a cloud, and that’s the end’: first Australian-made orbital rocket crashes shortly after takeoff
Guardian3 days
Australian-Made Rocket Crashes After 14-Second Flight
Above: Space operations at the Woomera Range Complex in South Australia on Dec. 4, 2020. Image copyright: MORGAN SETTE/AFP/Getty Images
The Spin
Pro-government narrative
This launch is a major breakthrough for Australia's space ambitions, despite the brief flight time. Getting off the launch pad proves the rocket’s core systems work and puts Australia on track to join only six nations capable of regular orbital launches. The 14 seconds of flight data will also directly improve the next vehicle already in production.
Government-critical narrative
Eris' failed takeoff shows why Australia cannot compete in space technology with the key players. With just a small number of engineering graduates each year compared to countries like China and India, Australia lacks the required talent pool to independently run major engineering programs, which is why Eris only achieved 14 seconds of flight time.