World
English original
Planned aerospace centre near Christchurch could launch rockets a dozen times a year
Rockets weighing up to 100 tonnes each could launch a dozen times a year from a planned national aerospace centre near Christchurch.
A planned national aerospace centre near Christchurch could launch large rockets weighing up to 100 tonnes each a dozen times a year. These launches are a proposed capability.
The project summary says Tāwhaki and France's SpaceDreamS need to develop a collaboration agreement, secure capital for construction and consents, and discuss regulations with the National Space Agency.
The spaceport plan describes a rocket pad measuring 30m by 30m, to be built to NASA standards. The proposed pad would be beside Lake Ellesmere Te Waihora, about 10 kilometres from State Highway 75.
The plan lists five possible rocket fuels, all of them gas. It does not include the more environmentally damaging solid rocket fuels.
The centre connected with SpaceDreamS at an international aerospace congress in Sydney last year. The French visitors signed a memorandum of understanding to investigate the feasibility of a collaborative spaceport.