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New Zealand To Launch First Private Space Rocket

Posted by kdawson on from the hobbits-in-space dept.

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."

4 of 96 comments (clear)

  1. Manned "amateur" space flight in Denmark by JesVestervang · · Score: 2, Interesting

    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!

  2. Re:Rocket Lab to launch... by Nefarious+Wheel · · Score: 3, Interesting

    I've seen some pretty amazing engineering coming out of our NZ neighbors. They remind me of the Swiss more than anyone else. Amazing motorcycles, Stirling-cycle heat pumps, custom cars, all good stuff and very advanced. It would not surprise me in the least if they succeeded in a private space venture.

    Add good engineering to the amazing amount of high quality educational material available online (the full University syllabus material out there) and I can imagine little pockets of excellent engineering and sound science popping up all over the globe.

    Give the Internet some credit for this too.

    --
    Do not mock my vision of impractical footwear
  3. xena connection by hort_wort · · Score: 2, Interesting

    New Zealand is where Xena was filmed. The new planetoid recently discovered was also named Xena. Coincidence? I think not.

  4. Bowie's In Space by skyriser2 · · Score: 2, Interesting

    Hopefully it will look something like this...

    Flight of the Conchords, Bowie's In Space:
    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f4zV4pJ8MwM