Rocket Lab
| Type | Private |
|---|---|
| Headquarters | Auckland, New Zealand |
| Key people |
Peter Beck, CEO homepage = Official website |
Rocket Lab Ltd. is a New Zealand firm that designs and fabricates sounding rockets and propulsion systems.
The first launch of the Ātea-1 (Māori for 'space') suborbital sounding rocket was scheduled for late 2009. The 6m long rocket weighing 60 kg is designed to carry a 2 kg payload to an altitude of 120 km.[1] It is intended to carry scientific payloads or possibly personal items.[2][3]
Atea-1 was successfully launched from Great Mercury Island near Coromandel on 30 November 2009 at 2:30pm after fueling problems delayed the scheduled 7.10am liftoff.[4]
A larger Ātea-2 series rocket is reported to be under development.[5]
In December 2010 Rocket Lab was awarded a US contract from the Operationally Responsive Space Office (ORS) to study low cost a space launcher to place nano-satellites into orbit.[6][7][8][9]
Some funding has been obtained from the Foundation for Research, Science and Technology. Former Crown Research scientist Peter Beck is founder, CEO and Technical Director.
References
- ↑ Ātea-1 technical specifications
- ↑ "Rocket project gears for take off". The New Zealand Herald. 15 August 2007. Retrieved 2009-11-17.
- ↑ Goldsmith, Rob (16 November 2009). "Rocket lab primed to launch new zealand’s first rocket into space". Space Fellowship website. Retrieved 2009-11-17.
- ↑ "NZ's first space launch saved by $6 replacement part". The New Zealand Herald. 30 November 2009. Retrieved 11 September 2011.
- ↑ Ātea-2 technical specifications
- ↑ Rocket Lab News, Webarchive: "December 2010 - Rocket Lab was awarded a US contract from the Operationally Responsive Space Office (ORS) to study low cost international alternatives. Included in this study is a 640,000Ns booster, a miniature avionics system and a launch vehicle to place small mass satellites into polar and low Earth orbits."
- ↑ "Rocket Research & Development Based in New Zealand". Rocket Lab. Retrieved 2012-10-09.
- ↑ "New Zealand Rocketry Association (NZRA) - Rocketry Links". Nzrocketry.org.nz. Retrieved 2012-10-09.
- ↑ "NZ set to join the space age". Stuff.co.nz. NZPA. 9 October 2009. Retrieved 22 November 2011.