• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to secondary sidebar
  • NEWS:
  • SatNews
  • SatMagazine
  • MilSatMagazine
  • SmallSat News
  • |     EVENTS:
  • SmallSat Symposium
  • Satellite Innovation
  • MilSat Symposium

SatNews

  • HOME
  • Magazines
  • Events
  • Perspectives
  • Industry Calendar
    • IN PERSON
    • VIRTUAL
  • Subscribe

Rocket Lab Launches Have The Support Of New Zealand’s Air Traffic Controllers

November 21, 2021

As Rocket Lab’s Electron rockets take off into space, New Zealand’s air traffic controllers are ensuring a safe passage through controlled airspace.

Airways New Zealand, the country’s air navigation service provider, has supported Rocket Lab’s Electron rocket launches since 2017, when the aerospace organization launched its first rocket into space. Since then, 21 Electron rockets have been launched, deploying more than 100 satellites into orbit.

Now, Airways has signed a second, five-year contract with Rocket Lab to provide air traffic services, including management of a ‘special use airspace’ around each Electron rocket as it launches. Airways is in a strong position to be working with Rocket Lab as it continues to launch its Electron rocket into space from New Zealand.

Organizations such as NASA and Google have selected New Zealand for their balloon launches, due to its relatively uncongested airspace, Airways’ experience and robust systems and procedures and a national appetite to support emerging technologies.

“Airways continues to provide support in the preparation and execution of each Rocket Lab launch. We work closely with the launch team to ensure that every rocket has a safe flight path through New Zealand’s airspace,” said Airways’ General Manager of Air Navigation Services, Katie Wilkinson. “Allowing safe and flexible access to the airspace is critical to supporting this growing industry in New Zealand, and we have a team of experienced air traffic controllers, flight service officers and air traffic services experts working behind the scenes to enable this.”

“We’re pleased to be working closely with Airways to ensure that our launch operations are safe and well coordinated with all aviation activity. Airways has played an important role in ensuring the safety of New Zealand’s growing aerospace industry,” said Izaak Connaughton, Launch Safety and Regulatory Affairs Manager for Rocket Lab.

Filed Under: Air Traffic Management, Launch Facilities, Launch Vehicle, SmallSat

Primary Sidebar

Most Read Stories

  • ABS Receives A Multi-Year Multi-Link Contract With Seanet Technologies Myanmar For O&G Comms Services
  • Optical Intersatellite Links In LEO Successfully Demo'd By CACI International In Partnership With DARPA + SDA + AFRL/RV
  • SpaceX Falcon 9 Launch Vehicle Drives 53 Additional Starlink Satellites To Orbit
  • The Freeform 3D Printing Of Satellite Antennas In Space Is Developed By Mitsubishi Electric
  • UPDATE #2: Blue Origin Pushing Out The NS-21 Mission Launch

About Satnews

  • Contacts
  • History

Archives

  • May 2022
  • April 2022
  • March 2022
  • February 2022
  • January 2022
  • December 2021
  • November 2021
  • October 2021
  • September 2021
  • August 2021
  • July 2021
  • June 2021
  • May 2021
  • April 2021
  • March 2021
  • February 2021
  • January 2021
  • December 2020
  • November 2020
  • October 2020
  • September 2020
  • August 2020
  • July 2020
  • June 2020
  • May 2020
  • April 2020

Secondary Sidebar

x
Sign up Now (For Free)
Access daily or weekly satellite news updates covering all aspects of the commercial and military satellite industry.
Invalid email address
Notify Me Regarding ( At least one ):
We value your privacy and will not sell or share your email or other information with any other company. You may also unsubscribe at anytime.

Click Here to see our full privacy policy.
Thanks for subscribing!