Gilmour Space appoints former NASA deputy administrator Pamela Melroy to board

Gold Coast-headquartered aerospace company Gilmour Space Technologies has appointed former NASA deputy administrator, astronaut and retired US Air Force Colonel Pamela Melroy to its board as the company scales its launch, satellite, and spaceport capabilities for global markets.

Melroy is one of only two women to have commanded a NASA Space Shuttle mission and brings more than three decades of leadership spanning civil, defence and commercial aerospace to the role.

Her appointment, announced today, follows the earlier addition of international business leader Paco Ybarra to the Gilmour Space board.

The move comes as the company pushes deeper into international markets on the back of a $217 million Series E capital raise announced in January, co-led by the National Reconstruction Fund Corp and superannuation fund Hostplus.

That round valued Gilmour Space at more than US$1 billion ($1.4 billion), making it Australia's first space technology unicorn.

"Pam is one of the most respected leaders in the global aerospace industry," says Gilmour Space Technologies CEO and co-founder Adam Gilmour.

"Her experience across government, defence and commercial space will be invaluable as we continue building sovereign capability in Australia and expanding our presence internationally.

"We are proud to welcome her to the board and look forward to her guidance as we enter our next phase of growth." 

Melroy says she is joining Gilmour Space at an important stage of its journey.

"The team is building a genuinely critical sovereign capability for Australia, with ambitions that extend well beyond launch," she says.

"It's been impressive to see the company's willingness to tackle some of the most challenging aspects of the space sector, from launch vehicles and satellites to the infrastructure needed to support them.

"Building these capabilities takes patience, technical excellence, and long-term commitment.

"As access to space becomes increasingly important for economic growth, technological leadership, and national security, I believe Gilmour Space is well positioned to play a meaningful role in Australia's future and the global space economy."

Gilmour Space has been on an aggressive growth trajectory over the past 18 months.

The company completed the maiden test flight of its Eris rocketon 30 July last year from its Bowen Orbital Spaceport in Queensland, achieving 14 seconds of flight before an in-flight anomaly caused two first-stage hybrid rocket motors to lose thrust due to oxidiser pump subsystem faults.

An investigation into the anomaly concluded in April this year, with the company targeting a second test flight later this year.

Beyond its launch vehicle program, Gilmour Space launched its first ElaraSat satellite via a SpaceX rideshare mission in June last year and was selected as the docking partner for US-based Starfish Space's Otter Pup 2 on-orbit servicing mission in May this year.

The company also struck a partnership with Japan's Space BD in mid-2025 to offer dedicated southern hemisphere launch services.

The National Reconstruction Fund Corp. committed $75 million to the Series E round, with CEO David Gall saying at the time that the investment supported Australia's sovereign space capability.

Gilmour Space had previously raised $55 million in a Series D round in early 2024 at an implied valuation of $605 million.

The company now employs more than 220 people and works with more than 500 Australian suppliers across its rocket, satellite, and spaceport operations.