Latest news with #KeaAerospace
Scoop
26-06-2025
- Business
- Scoop
Canterbury Launches Ambitious Aerospace Strategy
The Strategy builds on Canterburys unique geographical advantages, established infrastructure, and active ecosystem of aerospace firms from satellite technology and advanced aviation to autonomous systems and green fuels. The Waitaha Canterbury Aerospace Strategy was launched today at the Wigram Airforce Museum, marking a milestone in the region's ambition to be a globally recognised centre of aerospace innovation. Developed by the Canterbury Aerospace Leadership Group – a coalition of leaders from the aerospace industry, tertiary institutions, and public agencies – the Strategy outlines a bold vision for Canterbury to become a global aerospace leader by 2035. With a focus on innovation, sustainability, workforce development, and collaboration, it sets a clear path to transform the sector into a $1 billion contributor to the regional economy. 'This Strategy is a uniting document that reflects the extraordinary potential of our region,' says Ali Adams, CEO of ChristchurchNZ and Chair of the Canterbury Aerospace Leadership Group. 'It showcases how Canterbury can lead the way in solving global challenges through aerospace – from climate monitoring to sustainable propulsion – while creating high-value jobs and driving innovation that benefits our people and our planet.' The Strategy builds on Canterbury's unique geographical advantages, established infrastructure, and active ecosystem of aerospace firms – from satellite technology and advanced aviation to autonomous systems and green fuels. Mark Rocket, CEO of Kea Aerospace and a member of the Leadership Group, says the sector has huge momentum. 'We're standing on the launchpad of something extraordinary. With this Strategy, we are saying to the world: Canterbury is open for aerospace innovation. This is a region where bold ideas take flight – supported by a community that's collaborative, future-focused, and committed to making a global impact.' A vision for 2035 The Strategy sets out ambitious targets for the next decade, including: • Growing the sector to more than $1 billion in economic impact regionally • Supporting more than 1,500 FTE jobs in aerospace across Canterbury • Achieving net-zero emissions for 50% of aerospace companies • Reaching 20% Māori and Pacific Peoples workforce representation • Positioning Canterbury as a hub for world-leading R&D and global investment 'By 2035, aerospace will be a cornerstone of Canterbury's prosperity,' says Adams. 'But this isn't just about growth – it's about building a future that's inclusive, sustainable, and driven by innovation.' ABOUT CHRISTCHURCHNZ: ChristchurchNZ is the city's sustainable economic development and city profile agency. Our purpose is to stimulate sustainable economic growth for a more prosperous Christchurch. Find out more at
Scoop
26-06-2025
- Business
- Scoop
Canterbury Launches Ambitious Aerospace Strategy
The Waitaha Canterbury Aerospace Strategy was launched today at the Wigram Airforce Museum, marking a milestone in the region's ambition to be a globally recognised centre of aerospace innovation. Developed by the Canterbury Aerospace Leadership Group – a coalition of leaders from the aerospace industry, tertiary institutions, and public agencies – the Strategy outlines a bold vision for Canterbury to become a global aerospace leader by 2035. With a focus on innovation, sustainability, workforce development, and collaboration, it sets a clear path to transform the sector into a $1 billion contributor to the regional economy. 'This Strategy is a uniting document that reflects the extraordinary potential of our region,' says Ali Adams, CEO of ChristchurchNZ and Chair of the Canterbury Aerospace Leadership Group. 'It showcases how Canterbury can lead the way in solving global challenges through aerospace – from climate monitoring to sustainable propulsion – while creating high-value jobs and driving innovation that benefits our people and our planet.' The Strategy builds on Canterbury's unique geographical advantages, established infrastructure, and active ecosystem of aerospace firms – from satellite technology and advanced aviation to autonomous systems and green fuels. Mark Rocket, CEO of Kea Aerospace and a member of the Leadership Group, says the sector has huge momentum. 'We're standing on the launchpad of something extraordinary. With this Strategy, we are saying to the world: Canterbury is open for aerospace innovation. This is a region where bold ideas take flight – supported by a community that's collaborative, future-focused, and committed to making a global impact.' A vision for 2035 The Strategy sets out ambitious targets for the next decade, including: • Growing the sector to more than $1 billion in economic impact regionally • Supporting more than 1,500 FTE jobs in aerospace across Canterbury • Achieving net-zero emissions for 50% of aerospace companies • Reaching 20% Māori and Pacific Peoples workforce representation • Positioning Canterbury as a hub for world-leading R&D and global investment 'By 2035, aerospace will be a cornerstone of Canterbury's prosperity,' says Adams. 'But this isn't just about growth – it's about building a future that's inclusive, sustainable, and driven by innovation.' ABOUT CHRISTCHURCHNZ:
Time of India
01-06-2025
- Business
- Time of India
Mark Rocket: Who is Mark Rocket? The Christchurch entrepreneur who just became the first New Zealander in space
ADVERTISEMENT ADVERTISEMENT ADVERTISEMENT With a name like Rocket, it was only a matter of time. On Sunday, Christchurch aerospace entrepreneur Mark Rocket lived up to his name, becoming the first New Zealander to fly to 55-year-old soared aboard Virgin Galactic 's Galactic 07 mission, a suborbital flight launched from Spaceport America in New Mexico. As the spacecraft arced above Earth, reaching an altitude of about 88 kilometres, Rocket joined a rare group of civilians who have witnessed the planet from the edge of space and returned safely.'I've been dreaming of this for a long time,' Rocket said after the flight. 'It was surreal. The Earth looked incredible from up there.'Born Mark Stevens, he legally changed his name to Mark Rocket in 2003 to reflect his passion for space. He was an early investor and the first customer of Rocket Lab, New Zealand's prominent space launch company, although he is no longer co-founded Kea Aerospace , a Christchurch-based company developing solar-powered aircraft to collect high-altitude data. He is also the current president of the Aerospace New Zealand industry group, which supports the country's growing space sector.'This flight isn't just about me,' Rocket said. 'It's about inspiring others in Aotearoa to dream bigger, reach higher, and see space as part of our future.'The Virgin Galactic flight lasted around 90 minutes from takeoff to landing. Rocket was joined on board by passengers from the US, Ukraine, and Austria, as well as two Virgin Galactic crew spacecraft, VSS Unity , was carried into the sky by a mothership before being released to fire its rocket engine and soar into space. It was Unity's final flight, and it is now being retired after completing seven commercial said he had been training for the experience since 2022 and felt honored to represent New Zealand. 'The view, the weightlessness — it was all incredible,' he said. 'I feel extremely grateful.'Prime Minister Christopher Luxon congratulated Rocket, calling the flight 'a proud moment for New Zealand's science and technology sector.''It's only the beginning,' Rocket said. 'There's so much more we can achieve.'
Time of India
01-06-2025
- Science
- Time of India
Who is Mark Rocket? The Christchurch entrepreneur who just became the first New Zealander in space
With a name like Rocket, it was only a matter of time. On Sunday, Christchurch aerospace entrepreneur Mark Rocket lived up to his name, becoming the first New Zealander to fly to space. The 55-year-old soared aboard Virgin Galactic 's Galactic 07 mission, a suborbital flight launched from Spaceport America in New Mexico. As the spacecraft arced above Earth, reaching an altitude of about 88 kilometres, Rocket joined a rare group of civilians who have witnessed the planet from the edge of space and returned safely. 'I've been dreaming of this for a long time,' Rocket said after the flight. 'It was surreal. The Earth looked incredible from up there.' Born Mark Stevens, he legally changed his name to Mark Rocket in 2003 to reflect his passion for space. He was an early investor and the first customer of Rocket Lab, New Zealand's prominent space launch company, although he is no longer involved. Rocket co-founded Kea Aerospace , a Christchurch-based company developing solar-powered aircraft to collect high-altitude data. He is also the current president of the Aerospace New Zealand industry group, which supports the country's growing space sector. Live Events 'This flight isn't just about me,' Rocket said. 'It's about inspiring others in Aotearoa to dream bigger, reach higher, and see space as part of our future.' The Virgin Galactic flight lasted around 90 minutes from takeoff to landing. Rocket was joined on board by passengers from the US, Ukraine, and Austria, as well as two Virgin Galactic crew members. The spacecraft, VSS Unity , was carried into the sky by a mothership before being released to fire its rocket engine and soar into space. It was Unity's final flight, and it is now being retired after completing seven commercial missions. Rocket said he had been training for the experience since 2022 and felt honored to represent New Zealand. 'The view, the weightlessness — it was all incredible,' he said. 'I feel extremely grateful.' Prime Minister Christopher Luxon congratulated Rocket, calling the flight 'a proud moment for New Zealand's science and technology sector.' 'It's only the beginning,' Rocket said. 'There's so much more we can achieve.'
Yahoo
31-05-2025
- Science
- Yahoo
1st New Zealander reaches space on Blue Origin flight
May 31 (UPI) -- Blue Origin's 12th human spaceflight carried the first New Zealander into space and back on Saturday morning in West Texas. The flight carried six passengers beyond the Karman Line, which is the internationally established boundary between space and Earth's atmosphere at an elevation of 62 miles, reported. Among the passengers was Mark Rocket, who is an aerospace executive from Christchurch, New Zealand, and is that nation's first citizen to reach space. Rocket changed his surname many years ago in honor of his passion for space travel, TVNZ1 reported on May 22. "Ever since I was a kid, I've always been fascinated by space technology and space travel," he said. "We live in a solar system, which is vast; a galaxy, which is vast; and this incredible universe, which is just hard to imagine." Rocvket's fascination with space led to a career in aerospace, and before the flight he said he was looking forward to experiencing "3Gs of rocket-powered flight up to space." Rocket is the president of Aerospace New Zealand and ownsKea Aerospace, which is developing a solar-powered, unmanned aircraft capable of reaching the stratosphere to collect high-resolution data of the Earth below it. Other crew members The flight also carried K-12 STEM teacher Aymette Medina Jorge, former Panamanian ambassador to the United States Jaime Aleman and radiologist GretchenGreen into space, according to Blue Origin. Also aboard the spaceflight were businessman Jesse Williams and entrepreneur Paul Jeris. The six passengers were weightless for about three minutes while getting a unique view of the world from space. Upon landing back on Earth, Green called the experience "perfection." "There are very few things in life that were true perfection," Green told "When I looked out at space and back down to the Earth, [it] was perfect." 32nd successful spaceflight The spaceflight was the 32nd for Jeff Bezos-owned Blue Origin and its New Shepard program and launched at 8:39 a.m. CDT from Blue Origin's Launch Site One about 30 miles north of Van Horn near the U.S.-Mexico border. The New Shepard launch vehicle included the capsule that carried its passengers and a booster rocket. The capsule and booster rocket are reusable. The booster rocket separated from the capsule about 2.5 minutes into the flight, which allowed the capsule to continue its ascent into space before returning to Earth. The autonomous capsule used a propulsive system to slow its descent while making a vertical landing on a concrete pad near where it launched. New Shepard is named after Alan Shepard, the first American in space in 1961 and 10 years year was the fifth person to walk on the moon. The program is intended the ferry humans and scientific payloads into space. "We thank our customers for trusting us to give them the opportunity to appreciate Earth's fragility from above," said Phil Joyce, senior vice president of New Shepard. Joyce said the experience "truly transforms those who embark on it." Blue Origin's New Shepard program has carried 64 people into space and back, including singer Katy Perry and CBS broadcast Gayle King.
