Off the wire
• Freight service boosts China's fresh export to Russia  • Obama to mourn victims of Orlando shooting Thursday  • Bear attack warning issued after 4 aged people killed in northern Japan  • Interview: Venezuela suffers U.S.-motivated "second phase of international siege" -- analyst  • China-U.S. Game Innovation Summit held in Los Angeles  • Tokyo shares end lower by break amid Brexit concerns  • Aust'n economic think tank identifies 10 areas vital to growth  • First votes cast ahead of Australia's July 2 federal election  • Full Text: Assessment Report on the Implementation of the National Human Rights Action Plan of China (2012-2015) (13)  • Full Text: Assessment Report on the Implementation of the National Human Rights Action Plan of China (2012-2015) (15)  
You are here: 　 Home

New Zealand readies for first space launch

Xinhua, June 14, 2016 Adjust font size:

New Zealand is entering the space age, the government announced Tuesday, unveiling a new regulatory regime as the country gears up for its first rocket launch.

The newly-formed New Zealand Space Agency -- within the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment (MBIE) -- said on its website that the country was joining "a small group of space-faring nations using disruptive, innovative technologies to tackle some of our planet's big challenges and to create new and exciting opportunities for economic growth."

It cited the U.S.-owned Rocket Lab, a commercial space launch operator using technology developed in New Zealand, which was planning to provide frequent, low-cost rocket launch services to a growing international small satellite industry.

"New Zealand's location is considered important as it provides access to particular launch angles, clear skies and clear seas to enable frequent launches," it said.

Economic Development Minister Steven Joyce said the government needed to introduce a regulatory framework so that Rocket Lab and others could operate in New Zealand.

The regime consisted of a new Outer Space and High Altitude Activities Bill, a Technology Safeguards Agreement between New Zealand and the United States, and a decision to join the United Nations Convention on Registration of Objects launched into Outer Space.

It was also New Zealand's intention to join the UN Committee for the Peaceful Uses of Outer Space.

"New Zealand has the advantage of a geographic location that enables a wide range of orbits with minimal interference to air traffic and shipping. We also have a highly skilled workforce and a safe secure environment," Joyce said in a statement.

Other groups working in the satellite industry include two potential regional research institutes that had been shortlisted to develop business cases with the MBIE: the Centre for Space Science Technology, and Earth+Vantage.

NASA and Google had launched high altitude balloons from New Zealand.

Technology Safeguards Agreement (TSA) with the United States would cover the safeguards associated with the use in New Zealand of controlled U.S. rocket technology.

"The TSA contains safeguards to protect controlled U.S. rocket and satellite technology while ensuring New Zealand agencies retain the ability to perform their statutory tasks," Joyce said.

Accession to the UN Convention on Registration of Objects launched into Outer Space required New Zealand to establish and maintain a register of space objects launched from New Zealand and a mechanism to identify space objects. Endit