Editorial: Who says Kiwis can't fly?

Rocket Lab's second Electron rocket stands on its New Zealand pad prior to a series of launch attempts in December 2017. A new window for the launch opens in late January 2018.

Readers may have deduced by now I have a soft spot for Kiwi company Rocket Lab.

Not just because I am a space junkie, but because the thought of New Zealand having its own space programme is – well – it's like winning the Rugby World and America's cups. All conjure that David versus Goliath sense of patriotism.

Rocket Lab's second Electron rocket is set for its test launch some time between January 20 and nine days later. If successful future launches will carry payloads for paying customers and we will have a slice of the space, space.

Attempts to launch in December were postponed firstly due to less than perfect weather conditions, and secondly due to a minor technical hitch which has since been ironed out. But the third reason was something quintessentially Kiwi.

Rocket Lab chief executive Peter Beck said the company stood down at the end of last month's window, rather than attempt to extend it, to give employees a break over the Christmas holidays. "We were conscious to give our team a decent rest after a big year," he said.

Wow. Can you imagine Nasa, SpaceX, Google or any of the big cheeses putting the welfare of its staff ahead of business and production? I venture it does not happen often.

Yet it sits well with us. Because despite increasing corporatisation and employer-friendly labour laws, at our core, we still hold true to values much of the world seems to have forsaken. I'm even a bigger Rocket Lab fan now – even if its head offices are based in the US, a logical and understandable decision.

Let's hope this month's test launch goes to plan, that Rocket Lab reaches orbit and launches what could be the start of a new industry, if not something else that New Zealand will be known for – alongside Sir Ed, All Blacks, sheep and a few movies involving Hobbits.

Who says Kiwis can't fly?

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Update 21-01-2018 14:50 Rocket Lab successful!

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Posted by Rocket Lab on Saturday, 20 January 2018

See also:
Blast off! Rocket Lab successfully reaches orbit