10/6/2016

GCRInnovationFirsteverprivatespaceportopensforNewZealandspacebus

Website of the Chartered Institute of Building

GO

Menu

http://www.globalconstructionreview.com/innovation/firsteverprivatespaceportop7ensne7wzealan7d/

1/6

10/6/2016

GCRInnovationFirsteverprivatespaceportopensforNewZealandspacebus

First ever private spaceport opens for New

Zealand space bus
28 September 2016 | By David Rogers

0 Comments

The worlds rst private spaceport has been completed in New

Zealand for Rocket Labs, a private company oering a budget
satellite delivery service.
Launch Complex 1, which was completed in only nine months, is located on the
Mahia Peninsula of New Zealands North Island.
Facilities at the complex include a hangar where the vehicle will be prepared for
launch as well as a 50 tonne launch pad, which tilts to lift the rocket to a vertical
position prior to launch. The company also built a 3.5km road to reach its chosen
site.

The site was chosen for its remoteness, which will minimise disruption from air

http://www.globalconstructionreview.com/innovation/firsteverprivatespaceportop7ensne7wzealan7d/

2/6

10/6/2016

GCRInnovationFirsteverprivatespaceportopensforNewZealandspacebus

The site was chosen for its remoteness, which will minimise disruption from air
and marine trac.
Rocket Labs business is based on its two-stage Electron launch vehicle, which is
powered by an innovative Rutherford engine. According to Rocket Labs, this
adopts an entirely new propulsion cycle, using electric motors to drive
turbopumps, and is the rst oxygen/hydrocarbon engine to use 3D printing for all
primary components.
The rocket itself relies on standard modular parts to reduce weight and enhance
reliability. For example, the vehicles avionics system weighs 8.6kg, compared with
the 4,500kg of NASAs rst Space Shuttle.

The Mahia site allows a wide range of launch azimuths

The Electron is conceived as a kind of space bus, able to park a small satellite in
orbit for as little as $50,000. The rst launch is scheduled to take place before the
end of the year, and a further nine are planned for next year. All of these launches
have been fully booked.
Satellites launched from the complex will be used to provide services including
crop monitoring, meteorological reporting, communications and location services.
Rocket Labs was founded by New Zealand rocket scientist Peter Beck in 2007. It is

http://www.globalconstructionreview.com/innovation/firsteverprivatespaceportop7ensne7wzealan7d/

3/6

10/6/2016

GCRInnovationFirsteverprivatespaceportopensforNewZealandspacebus

Rocket Labs was founded by New Zealand rocket scientist Peter Beck in 2007. It is
funded by Khosla Ventures, a US venture capitalist run by Indian billionaire Vinod
Khosla, which specialises in early-stage high-technology projects.
A video showing the construction of the space station can be seen here.
Image: Rocket Labs sta pose with their Electron rocket. Illustrations courtesy of Rocket
Labs.
Further Reading:
Kajima to develop extraterrestrial construction machinery
Space agency picks Italian company to design lunar drill
Russia plans to put nuclear reactor on the Moon by 2035

Add a comment
Name
Email address
Website (optional)
Comment

I'm not a robot

reCAPTCHA
Privacy - Terms

SUBMIT
http://www.globalconstructionreview.com/innovation/firsteverprivatespaceportop7ensne7wzealan7d/

4/6

10/6/2016

GCRInnovationFirsteverprivatespaceportopensforNewZealandspacebus

ARTICLES IN INNOVATION

US aims for worlds rst 3D printed excavator

First ever private spaceport opens for New Zealand space bus
Mexican rms jigsaw brick system halves building time
Singapore scientists discover bendable concrete
http://www.globalconstructionreview.com/innovation/firsteverprivatespaceportop7ensne7wzealan7d/

5/6

10/6/2016

GCRInnovationFirsteverprivatespaceportopensforNewZealandspacebus

Singapore scientists discover bendable concrete

View all articles in INNOVATION >

Advertise with us

Terms & conditions

Privacy policy

Contact us

SelectLanguage

RSS

Atom 2016

http://www.globalconstructionreview.com/innovation/firsteverprivatespaceportop7ensne7wzealan7d/

6/6