HardwareHelensvale, AustraliaFounded 2012· One of 1708 Hardware companies tracked by AMPulse
A leading Australian aerospace company developing sovereign orbital launch vehicles and satellite platforms powered by proprietary hybrid rocket technology.
CEO / Founder
Adam Gilmour
Team Size
201-500
Stage
Active
Total Funding
$360.0M
Latest Round
Series E
Key Investors
Queensland Investment Corporation (QIC), Blackbird Ventures, Main Sequence Ventures, Hostplus, HESTA, NGS Super
Technology & Products
Key Products
Eris orbital launch vehicle, satellite platforms, proprietary hybrid rocket technology
Technological Advantage
Vertical integration strategy encompassing rocket manufacturing, satellite bus development, and the operation of their own orbital spaceport, providing a complete 'end-to-end' sovereign space solution.
Differentiation
Value Proposition
Provides more affordable, safer, and reliable access to Low Earth Orbit (LEO) through innovative hybrid propulsion that reduces manufacturing complexity and operational costs.
How They Differentiate
Proprietary hybrid propulsion technology using liquid oxidizers and 3D-printed solid fuel grains, which are safer, more stable, and significantly less expensive to manufacture than traditional liquid or solid-fuel engines.
Market & Competition
Target Customers
Small satellite operators, commercial telecommunications companies, government space agencies, and international defense organizations.
Achieved 'Unicorn' status with a valuation exceeding $1B in 2024; expanded team to over 200 employees.
Major Milestones
["Reached Unicorn status with a $217M Series E raise in Feb 2024","Secured Australia's first-ever orbital launch permit from the Australian Space Agency in Nov 2024","Completed construction of the Bowen Orbital Spaceport (BOS) in North Queensland","Successfully qualified the 110kN 'Sirius' hybrid rocket engine"]
Notable Customers
Australian customers, German Orbital Systems (first European customer)
Gilmour Space is an Australian aerospace company building sovereign orbital launch vehicles and satellite platforms around proprietary hybrid rocket technology. Founded in 2012 and headquartered in Helensvale, Queensland, the company targets the growing small satellite launch market with a value proposition centered on affordability, safety, and operational simplicity. Its hybrid propulsion approach combines liquid oxidizers with 3D-printed solid fuel grains, a design intended to reduce manufacturing complexity and eliminate the hazards associated with traditional solid or liquid-only rocket engines.
The company's core product is the Eris orbital launch vehicle, supported by in-house satellite bus development and the operation of the Bowen Orbital Spaceport in North Queensland. Gilmour Space has qualified its 110kN 'Sirius' hybrid rocket engine and holds patents and trade secrets around 3D-printed fuel grain geometries and hybrid engine cooling systems. The company pursues a vertical integration strategy that covers rocket manufacturing, satellite platforms, and launch site operations, positioning itself as an end-to-end sovereign space capability provider for Australia.
Gilmour Space targets small satellite operators, telecommunications companies, government space agencies, and defense organizations. Named customers include Australian entities and German Orbital Systems as its first European customer. The company has partnerships with the Australian Space Agency, the Australian Department of Defence, Queensland Investment Corporation, Fleet Space Technologies, and Optus. It serves verticals including aerospace and defense, telecommunications, earth observation, scientific research, and remote sensing.
The company reached unicorn status in 2024 with a valuation exceeding $1 billion following a $217 million Series E round. Investors include Blackbird Ventures, Main Sequence Ventures, Hostplus, HESTA, and NGS Super. Gilmour Space secured Australia's first orbital launch permit from the Australian Space Agency in November 2024. Its primary competitive differentiation lies in hybrid propulsion using 3D-printed solid fuel, which the company claims is inherently safer and less expensive to manufacture than conventional liquid or solid systems. Competitors in the small launch segment include Stoke Space and Exos Aerospace, while SpaceX represents a broader competitive force in the orbital launch market.
Competitive Intelligence
Competitors, SWOT analysis, and investment insights