Australian rocket was all set to go — until a curious parrot decided to have a snack on rocket wires
The air in Bowen, Queensland, practically hummed with excitement. Gilmour Space Technologies stood on the precipice of history, poised to launch their 23-meter Eris rocket, the very first Australian-made vehicle to reach for the stars. May 15 was the designated day — one eagerly anticipated by space enthusiasts and the local cattle alike, as the launchpad nestled peacefully in a vast paddock. But as the countdown began its steady descent, an unseen adversary emerged — an electrical glitch in the ground support system — forcing an agonizing last-minute abort, reported News.com.au.
Hope, resilient as ever, flickered for the following day, offering a second chance for Eris to finally soar. Yet, fate, or perhaps something more peculiar, had other plans. Another electrical issue reared its head, this time triggering the rocket's nose cone to inexplicably open — a tell-tale sign that all was not well. The launch was, once again, delayed, leaving engineers to scratch their heads and spectators to ponder what cosmic force was conspiring against them.
The mystery deepened, a perplexing puzzle with no obvious solution. Then, Gilmour Space Technologies unveiled the most unlikely of saboteurs. The company shared a picture that instantly rippled with amusement across the internet: a sulphur-crested cockatoo, caught red-beaked, its beady eyes bright with mischief as it chewed through electrical wires at the very heart of the launchpad. “Not saying this is the root cause of our electrical issues… but we’re not ruling him out,” a spokesman said in the post, a perfect blend of exasperation and genuine humor.
The internet, as it always does, erupted with witty commentary. “Lucky he didn’t launch, could have turned into a flamin’ galah!” one person joked. Another chimed in, “Only a sulphur-crested could stop a rocket from launching,” while a third mused, “So computers have bugs and rockets have cockatoos.” And, in a fitting tribute to a classic, someone declared, “New Thunderbird in Action!” And so, the tale of the Eris rocket launch transformed from a mere story of engineering triumphs and setbacks into a charming anecdote, a reminder that even the most sophisticated technology can, at times, be momentarily baffled by the curious, mischievous, and utterly Australian spirit of a cockatoo.
Despite the unexpected delay caused by this feathered mischief-maker, the team at Gilmour Space remains optimistic. CEO Adam Gilmour reassured everyone that both the rocket and the team are in good shape. While naturally disappointed, he emphasized that they're already working on a solution and anticipate being back on the launchpad soon. After all, as he wisely noted, "this is all part of the journey” when pioneering new frontiers in space. A new launch window will be announced once it's confirmed, leaving many to wonder what other surprises this ongoing space adventure might hold.
It seems our suspect, the cockatoo, might have a penchant for more than just electrical wires. These charming birds are renowned for being among the top ten chattiest parrots, even if their vocabulary isn't always as extensive as some of their avian cousins. While they naturally make various noises and are adept at mimicking sounds they frequently hear, teaching them to speak takes considerable patience and consistent practice, far more than with other parrots.