New Zealand based company Rocket Lab has unveiled its low cost rocket, Electron, which they claim will revolutionise the commercial space industry
The company officially launched the Electron programme at their Auckland headquarters this week. The carbon composite rocket has a price tag of $5 million US and Rocket Lab’s CEO Peter Beck says it will open up satellite opputunites to smaller organisations.
“Along with benefits for commercial enterprises, cheaper and faster space access has the potential to lead to more accurate weather prediction, global high speed Internet access, as well as real-time monitoring of the impacts of human development,” said Mr. Beck said.
Rocket Lab’s announcement has been widely covered in the New Zealand media. Examples include:
New Zealand Herald: NZ to get its own space programme by 2015
Computerworld New Zealand: Rocket Lab wants to make space commercially viable with $5m launch vehicle
TVNZ News: NZ company to launch ground-breaking rocket
Stuff.co.nz: Kiwi rocket company ready to blast off
GeekZone: Rocket Lab wants to change the space industry
Techday: World-first as Kiwi aerospace firm sends businesses to infinity and beyond…
MSN News: Kiwi launches world-first cheap rocket
NewsTalkZB: Rocket Lab plans to go from NZ to the stars