Re:Rocket Launch in New Zealand Brings Quick, Cheap Space Ac...
by apendleton on Sunday November 11, 2018 @03:08PM
(#18428284)
Engines and avionics, but the rocket bodies, fairings, etc., are made in NZ and final assembly is there. In this interview: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Nj9BncsgvuQ the CEO talks about how that has been advantageous because apparently there's a large talent pool in carbon composite fabrication in NZ, and that while there are eventually plans to also launch from the US, when they do they'll still be making bodies in NZ and shipping them, and doing final assembly with US-made engines on the US side for those launches.
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Re:Rocket Launch in New Zealand Brings Quick, Cheap Space Ac...
by EdwardDiego on Sunday November 11, 2018 @06:00PM
(#18429269)
> apparently there's a large talent pool in carbon composite fabrication in NZ
Wonder how much of that was from building faster yachts for Team New Zealand?
Re:Rocket Launch in New Zealand Brings Quick, Cheap Space Ac...
by dredds on Sunday November 11, 2018 @06:45PM
(#18429475)
Yep, the America's Cup success lead to recognition of NZ's somewhat burgeoning super-yacht industry, which in turn fed back more talented craftsman, fabricators, designers.
Re:Rocket Launch in New Zealand Brings Quick, Cheap Space Ac...
by toomanybeersies on Sunday November 11, 2018 @06:25PM
(#18429375)
Speaking of carbon composite fabrication talent in NZ, I remember at an airshow in NZ a few years ago there was a company making a helicopter with an entirely composite airframe. Not sure what ended up happening to it, but it was interesting to see such cutting edge technology coming coming out of such a small company with minimal funding.
John Britten's superbike in the 1990s was also a pioneer for all sorts of composite manufacturing
Us Kiwis have always been good at that kind of thing though. There's actually a very healthy aviation technology and manufacturing industry here, especially for such a small country.