Aotearoa in space
Meet some of the experts – kairangahau Māori, scientists and engineers – who are at the cutting edge of Aotearoa New Zealand’s growing space industry. Their work encompasses the hardware, software, curiosity and vision needed to access space and the applications to find solutions to local and global issues.
The space sector is expanding – and it’s looking for a new generation of rangatahi to join this innovative and collaborative arena.
Transcript
Dr Sara Mikaloff-Fletcher
Principal Scientist (Carbon, Chemistry and Climate), NIWA Science Leader, MethaneSAT
Aotearoa New Zealand is growing our presence in space.
Mark Rocket
Chief Executive Officer, Kea Aerospace Founder and President, Aerospace Christchurch
We’re building a really vibrant aerospace ecosystem.
Stefan Powell
Chief Executive Officer, Chief Technical Officer, Co-founder, Dawn Aerospace
We're doing it better than many other players.
Jennifer Blackburne
Mechanical Engineer (Propulsion), Dawn Aerospace
There’s certainly a lot more to it than just firing a rocket.
Stefan Powell
Space produces a huge amount of data about Earth.
Dr Beata Bukosa
Atmospheric Modeller, NIWA
What excites me is the numerous possibilities space can give us.
Dr Sara Mikaloff-Fletcher
The ability to measure the Earth from space, that’s transformative technology.
Professor David Noone
Buckley-Glavish Professor of Climate Physics, Department of Physics, University of Auckland
New Zealand is competitive in this race for space.
Juliet McLachlan
Software Engineer (Flight Operations), Dawn Aerospace
Kiwis have a can-do attitude.
Mark Rocket
We think about things a little differently – in our DNA, we are explorers.
Dr Pauline Harris
Astrophysicist, cosmologist, kairangahau Māori Senior Lecturer, Te Kawa a Māui – School of Māori Studies, Victoria University of Wellington Chairperson, Society of Māori Astronomy Research and Traditions
For Māori, it was our celestial knowledge, which enabled us to travel here, and our whakapapa links us to the Sun, Moon and stars.
David Perenara-O’Connell
Māngai, Tāwhaki Joint Venture
Indigenous knowledge can play a vital role in how we develop what is uniquely New Zealand’s space industry.
Dr Moritz Lehmann
Aquatic remote sensing scientist Senior Scientist, Xerra Earth Observation Institute Adjunct Senior Research Fellow, University of Waikato
It’s a driver for innovation. It makes us invent new things and go to places where we’ve not been before.
Mark Rocket
We’re positioning ourselves internationally as a high-tech capable county.
Chris Jackson
Head of Space Operations and Ground Segment, Te Pūnaha Ātea – Space Institute, University of Auckland
We’re helping to train up the next generation of satellite engineers.
Dr Sara Mikaloff-Fletcher
The questions and the problems that we have to tackle are so much bigger than the number of people working in the area.
Dr Philipp Sueltrop
Chief Technical Officer, Kea Aerospace
You can have so many careers in aerospace.
Dr Sarah Kessans
Senior Lecturer, School of Product Design, Faculty of Engineering, University of Canterbury
We need a real diversity of different people.
David Perenara-O’Connell
One of the key things is dream. See yourself in the space that you want to create for your future, for our community and our people.
Jennifer Blackburne
Anyone can be part of this industry. It’s a great industry to be a part of.
Acknowledgements Dr Sara Mikaloff-Fletcher, NIWA Mark Rocket, Kea Aerospace and Christchurch Aerospace Stefan Powell, Dawn Aerospace Jennifer Blackburne, Dawn Aerospace Dr Beata Bukosa, NIWA Professor David Noone, University of Auckland Juliet McLachlan, Dawn Aerospace Dr Pauline Harris, Victoria University of Wellington and and Society of Māori Astronomy Research and Traditions David Perenara-O’Connell, Tāwhaki Joint Venture Dr Moritz Lehmann, Xerra Earth Observation Institute and University of Waikato Te Whare Wānanga o Waikato Chris Jackson, Te Pūnaha Ātea – Space Institute, University of Auckland Dr Philipp Sueltrop, Kea Aerospace Dr Sarah Kessans, University of Canterbury Satellite view of New Zealand and Australia on Earth, antartis, 123RF Ltd International Space Station passing over South Island, Earth Science and Remote Sensing Unit, NASA Johnson Space Center Kea Atmos concept animation and prototype test flight, Kea Aerospace Aurora space plane and prototype test flights, Dawn Aerospace Satellite images of sediment washing from river to ocean; red coloured lake; and Mt Ruapehu, and Starboard Maritime Intelligence app, Xerra Earth Observation Institute Awarua Ground Station and University of Auckland students working on a cubesat in a clean room, researching in baffled room and at computer, MBIE Lauder Atmospheric Research Station; wind model with Baring Head; Dr Lauren Vargo photographing glaciers from small aircraft; and drone footage at Lauder, NIWA Dr Philipp Sueltrop demonstrating small craft in field and at computer and 3D printer, ChristchurchNZ Timelapse showing colour changes at Lake Waikare over period of months in 2020, Dr Moritz Lehmann, Xerra Earth Observation Institute Gulf Airstream aeroplane, Permian Basin methane mapping project with Scientific Aviation and the University of Wyoming. Courtesy of MethaneSAT and the Environmental Defence Fund (EDF) Animation of single hull waka, Aoraki and his brothers in waka and formation of world, Virtual Eye Illustration of waka hourua, ancient voyaging canoe, Herb Kawainui Kāne Trust Māori star compass, Rāwiri Taonui, ‘Canoe navigation – Ocean voyaging’, Te Ara – the Encyclopedia of New Zealand (accessed 27 June 2022) Dr Pauline Harris at telescope and researching using microfiche, Project Mātauranga, Scottie Productions Timelapse of night sky, Dr Ian Griffin, Otago Museum Ātea a Rangi Star Compass, tamariki running in Waitangi Regional Park, and rangatahi learning to navigate a small waka, Hawke’s Bay Regional Council David Perenara-O’Connell at Kaitōrete Spit, courtesy of Tāwhaki Joint Venture Dinghy on lake, Dilshan DaSilva
