NZ Space Economy Reaches Take Off, Totaling $1.69 Billion

Hello reader! 

Below is a news published on (11/14) on New Zealand's Stuff website, which points out that New Zealand's Space Economy has reached $ 1.69 billion. 

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NZ Space Economy Reaches Take Off, Totaling $1.69 Billion

By Luke Malpass

Stuff

Nov 14 2019 – 16:21

SUPPLIED

Rocket Lab says rivals could come to NZ but it has nabbed the best launch site.

New Zealand's "space economy" is now contributing $1.69 billion to the New Zealand economy, according to a new report commissioned by the Government.

New Zealand's space industry - which many people won't have realised exists - directly contributed $897 million to the New Zealand economy in 2018-19 according to the report prepared by Deloitte, a global consultancy firm.

Not bad for the small New Zealand Space Agency, which in 2018-19 had a budget of less than $10 million, including what it spent supporting science research.

PHOTO: ALDEN WILLIAMS/STUFF

Minister for Economic Development Phil Twyford on Thursday released a report showing New Zealand's space industry was worth $1.69 billion.

That's because unusually for a national space industry, New Zealand's sector is a private company-led industry. Deloitte estimates it employs 12,000 people - mostly in small businesses.

Minister for Economic Development Phil Twyford was keen to celebrate the country's success in space on Thursday, launching the report with the Rocket Lab chief executive Peter Beck.

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Rocket Lab has found considerable success launching payloads into space, from New Zealand.

"The findings of this report show that New Zealand is extremely well-placed to increase its share in the NZ$647 billion global space economy," Twyford said.

"Through Rocket Lab, we are home to the world's leading small-launch provider, and we are attracting other leading international space companies, such as Silicon Valley start-up LeoLabs who have built their KiwiSpace Radar in Central Otago."

But beyond "enabling" and regulating the industry, Twyford said there was no significant investment from Government on the horizon. 

PHOTO: BEVAN READ/STUFF

Rocket Lab chief executive Peter Beck said the only thing holding the company back was a struggle to hire staff.

The New Zealand Space Agency was set up by the Government in 2016 and sits within the Ministry for Business Innovation and Employment.

New Zealand is considered — and the Government is pushing it as — an ideal place for launching satellites and other space-related activities.

New Zealand has "the world's first fully private orbital launch range with plans for the highest launch cadence in the world", according to the Agency, referring to Rocket Lab.

"The global space economy is a multi-billion dollar business that's evolving rapidly due to advances in technology - such as those that lower the costs of building satellites," according to the Agency.

New Zealand's clear skies, and lack of traffic make it an ideal place to launch space exploration. The industry is also been buoyed by both the United States' intention to go to the moon in 2014, and the huge opportunities created by Rocket Lab's small satellite technology.

The smaller and much lower cost satellites have the potential to create a whole new industry, much of which could be based in New Zealand.+

Beck said Rocket Lab was only limited by its struggle to hire staff. He expected the company would only ascend, along with a global space industry expected to be worth $2.7 trillion by 2040.

Rocket Lab consumed a third of New Zealand's machine shop capability, and bought from 1300 suppliers he said. 

"Our biggest issue right now is we need to build rockets faster, and we need more people to do that."

Rocket Lab is a US company operating out of New Zealand, funded by Silicon Valley investors. The company may list on the US stock exchange in the future, he said.

Source: Website of Stuff -  https://www.stuff.co.nz 

Comentário: Pois é leitor, essa notícia é um alerta para o nosso Ministro Marcos Pontes e o Governo Bolsonaro. Precisamos acelerar o nosso Programa Espacial, pois hoje a Nova Zelândia já é uma realidade como nação espacial atuando dentro do nicho de mercado que o Brasil pretende atuar, e com muita eficiência e competitividade, justamente como a materia acima descreve. Para complicar leitor, sequer temos ainda o nosso lançador de satélites e o caminho que o governo parece estar seguindo repete os erros de outrora e nos afasta cada vez mais do modelo 'New Space' atualmente em vigor em todo mundo. Esperávos mais atitude, liderança e força politica do nosso ministro na escolha do rumo certo, mas pelo visto até o momento o 'Lobby do Mal' e da ineficiência vem vencendo essa batalha e a continuar assim infelizmente estaremos caminhando para mais um década perdida. Aproveito para agradecer ao nosso leitor Rui Botelho pelo envio dessa notícia.