WHAT WAS CLAIMED
An Australian rocket that crashed after launching had an Indian-made engine.
OUR VERDICT
False. The rocket was designed and built entirely in Australia.
AAP FACTCHECK - Indian technology had nothing to do with the recent crash of an Australian-made rocket after a brief flight, despite false claims being spread online.
The Australian company behind the launch of the orbital rocket Eris said the claims are nonsense.
The assertion is being shared on Facebook and appears to originate from an X post on July 31, 2025, which shows footage from the launch attempt in north Queensland on July 30, 2025.
The captions read: "Australia's satellite launch failed 14 seconds after liftoff. The rocket had Indian ISRO-made engine."
The ISRO is the Indian Space Research Organisation.
The claim on X was posted by an account that frequently criticises India and publishes pro-Pakistan content.
Eris is the first Australian-made rocket to attempt to reach orbit, the Australian Space Agency says.
However, Indian technology had no part in the launch.
Michelle Gilmour, director and head of communications for Gilmour Space, told AAP FactCheck the claim was "absolutely not" true.
"Ours is homegrown Aussie tech."
In a news release on its website about the launch, Gilmour Space also states: "The TestFlight 1 campaign was the first integrated attempt of an orbital-class rocket designed and built entirely in Australia.
"Eris was developed almost entirely in-house - including propulsion, structures, avionics, software, and the spaceport itself - on a fraction of the budget available to most global launch companies."
India and Pakistan have ongoing tensions dating back to the 1947 partition of British India, including several wars and skirmishes over the disputed region of Kashmir.
While the initial launch only lasted about 14 seconds, company founder Adam Gilmour said the company was pleased with the attempt.
"Got off the pad, I am happy," he posted on LinkedIn. "Of course I would have liked more flight time but happy with this."
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