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New Zealand To Launch First Private Space Rocket
RobGoldsmith sends in a Space Fellowship piece (which seems to be a press release) about New Zealand's entry into the space age. "Private New Zealand aerospace company Rocket Lab completed its final ground-based test today and is now ready to launch New Zealand into the space race with its Atea-1 launch vehicle. The first high-altitude launch of Atea-1 is scheduled for the end of November this year. Once Atea-1 has successfully concluded the development phase it will be the first privately built rocket launched from the Southern Hemisphere to enter space. The article features a new CGI movie on the launch."
Not only have they almost launched a rocket, but they have apparently made it almost to 1985 CGI technology!
They fire them from Woomera (ie, in the southern hemisphere) all the time.
http://michaelsmith.id.au
I recall from an interview from the tv program 'Real People' with a fellow who had built a passenger rocket out of spare government parts. It was a torpedo-like tube with a very small window. There was passenger space for a lean person and a parachute.
I don't recall if it had been test fired. It was also unclear how high it would go. What I do remember well was when the builder was asked if he would fly in it, the answer was along the lines of "hell no".
Beta is broken and the link to classic doesn't work. Stop wasting our time or there won't be anybody left here.
If it's truly private, Rocket Lab should get all credit, not New Zealand.
My Image of the New Zealand space program is a group drunk of sheep farmers trying to hit the moon with a tin can catapulted by a pair of braces tied to a forked tree.
Here in Denmark, we have some guys working on a manned space flight: http://www.copenhagensuborbitals.com/ "Our mission is very simple. We are working towards launching a human being into space. This is a non-profit suborbital space endeavor lead by Kristian von Bengtson and Peter Madsen, based entirely on sponsors and volunteers." Their progress is impressive!
Since they seem to want to launch from the southern tip of south island I wonder how long they will have to wait for the wind to die down. Two, three years?
http://michaelsmith.id.au
So they gave up on their toothbrush fence?
Just saying, this is REALLY COOL! Good luck and best wishes
New Zealand going into space... what is the rocket fuel made from? sheep methane lol
Great Mercury Island is actually off the East Coast of the North Island, about the same latitude as Auckland. I expect they've designed it so it will work in the rain.
But they are on the bottom of the planet - won't they be firing the wrong way?
When I read this I remembered reading somewhere that this company was involved with internet entrepreneur Mark Rocket. I googled him and sure enough he is mentioned as a co-founder of Rocket Lab. Some years ago he was our neighbour and rented a house from my parents. I know that he did not have much money back then, but now he is a multi-millionaire. Mr Rocket, who changed his name from Stevens, was the first New Zealander to book a seat on Virgin Galactic's sub-orbital space flight in 2010. It's now approaching 1:00am but I thought it was nice to know that he has made a success of his life in the internet industry. I wish him and the company all the best in their endeavours.
you name fai|s i7
I can't believe its not jizz!
FTFY
Let them into the World Cup and next thing you know they think they can join the space race!
- Chuq
Rocket: Oh Noo, Oh Noo, I'm launched Broo. I'm launched es.
Satellite: Hey Broo, Hey Broo, what are you doing broo?
Rocket: Dude, I'm launched es.
Satellite: Ah Haw Shit. Your launched es!
Rocket: Tell me something I doo'nt noo.
Satellite:.... Broo, you're heaps launched es!
Rocket: Soo launched. Launched es.
...velcro gloves.
If I have seen further it is by stealing the Intellectual Property of giants.
New Zealand is where Xena was filmed. The new planetoid recently discovered was also named Xena. Coincidence? I think not.
Hopefully it will look something like this...
Flight of the Conchords, Bowie's In Space:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f4zV4pJ8MwM
We should have never given these people the technology to make movies. They've progressed in only one generation from filmmaking to building rockets. Who knows what shenanigans they may be capable of in the next generation.
SJW: Someone who has run out of real oppression, and has to fake it.
It's business time
"It has a payload of just two kilograms"
You'll have to do a lot better than that to pick up any customers New Zealand!
It's a good start though. They are further along than Australia.
For the first orbital flight they sent up a test sheep.
Unfortunately, it died. This set the mission back months, as curiously the chief engineer, a guy named "Trevor", was emotionally devastated and needed time off work.
In post Patriot Act America, the library books scan you.
Shouldnt spoil NZ's clean-green image either, Each launch has the same carbon footprint of running a car for 3 days, not sure if that's a prius or a hummer tho!
Long time listener, first time caller: :-P
As a proud Kiwi, I would just like to mention we are already planning to send a sheep in the next launch in 2012.
If it's truly private, Rocket Lab should get all credit, not New Zealand.
If you were a born and bred New Zealander as I am you would realise that the people behind this are the same. Ask anyone from NZ what they are, and I guarantee you they're a kiwi ahead of all other things.
New Zealanders are all un-hygienic!
Bow-ties are cool.
Hopefully it will look something like this...
Flight of the Conchords, Bowie's In Space:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f4zV4pJ8MwM
Or like a rocket takin' off to the moon!
Bow-ties are cool.
I'm so proud of NZ I'll try not to laugh when they say it is for "experimentation".
"By KroNicKq // 1923Turk-Grup" <- I'm assuming this is some zit-faced loser.
FOAD, geeks don't need cool, they need functional.
The video did indicate the launch site would be very far south on the South Island. There is certainly a lot of empty land down there which could be used. I just wonder how many years it would take to get the necessary building and operating consents from the local council(s).
New Zealand is an isolated country with a small population (under 5 million) with absolutely no interesting history or culture. As such patriotism is a fairly new phenomenon here and appealing to nationalism is the best way to get your project a spot on the dismal TV news, between articles about a single-fatality car crash and the rugby. Kiwis aren't all that impressed by an overgrown model rocket with no real application, but the director of Rocket lab (Mr. Rocket(!) will obviously do anything for publicity.
Also, New Zealand isn't known for it's high-tech industries, and has no great military-industrial complex to fund aerospace development. heck, we don't even have a combat air force down here.
For Christ's sake, Xena cannot leap into orbit. It's just fiction, New Zealand.
(-1: Post disagrees with my already-settled worldview) is not a valid mod option.
troll alert
troll alert
You didn't get the reference, apparently... That's OK. I enjoy spouting off references to TV shows and such but it's childish to act as if everyone simply must recognize the same set of pop culture references...
Bow-ties are cool.