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  • Rights: The University of Waikato Te Whare Wānanga o Waikato
    Published 25 July 2022 Referencing Hub media
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    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

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