Government officials expect NZ moon launch to create huge opportunities in space sector

January 6, 2022
| No Comments
  Launch sites, Moon missions, NASA, New Zealand, Rocket Lab, Space Treaties
 
Rocket Lab successfully launched its second Electron rocket on Sunday, Jan. 21, 2018. Photo Credit: Rocket Lab

By Ben Strang,
Published by Stuff, 6 January 2022

The New Zealand Space Agency believes its participation in the Artemis Accords – an international agreement to send people back to the moon – will significantly boost the space sector.

The Government signed up to the NASA accords last year, and New Zealand will play an important role in the project when Rocket Lab launches the CAPSTONE satellite to lunar orbit from Mahia Peninsula, likely in March.

NASA’s CAPSTONE, or Cislunar Autonomous Positioning System Technology Operations and Navigation Experiment satellite, will test the orbit planned to be used by a small space station that would act as a lunar gateway.

In documents obtained from the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment, the Space Agency said New Zealand’s participation would have “several intangible benefits”.

NASA’s CAPSTONE satellite will be launched from Mahia Peninsula, by Rocket Lab.
NASA’s CAPSTONE satellite will be launched from Mahia Peninsula, by Rocket Lab.

“The first of these is an increase to our space sector’s reputation internationally,” one document said. “New Zealand would be seen participating in the most high profile and technologically advanced space mission in recent history.

“It is likely that such an association would position New Zealand as a serious and advanced space nation for those not already aware of our activities.”

A report by Deloitte on the NZ space economy valued the industry at $1.7 billion, and said it was responsible for 5000 jobs.

The document also said New Zealand’s involvement in the accords, and the possibility of launching a lunar payload, would generate significant public interest for the space sector.

The New Zealand government is funding the launch of its first satellite, a global methane tracker.
The New Zealand government is funding the launch of its first satellite, a global methane tracker.

There would also be benefits in the education sector.

“As demonstrated by other space missions – notably NASA’s Apollo – New Zealand’s participation would also likely increase STEM [science, technology, engineering and mathematics] engagement at a secondary and tertiary level, creating more STEM professionals that New Zealand significantly lacks.”

The Artemis Accords were announced in May 2020, days after the administration of former United States President Donald Trump had drafted plans for an agreement on mining of the moon.

The accords also drew on the Artemis Programme, a 2017 plan to send the first woman to the moon by 2024.

New Zealand officials highlighted the importance of joining the programme due to the issue of space resources.

Dating back to the 1950s New Zealand has played a key role in legal discussions for the use of outer space, and signed the United Nations’ Treaty on Principles Governing the Activities of States in the Exploration and Use of Outer Space back in 1967.

The Space Agency said the accords “present an interpretation of the Outer Space Treaty that space resource utilisation is permissible for exploration purposes”.

Rocket Lab's launch site on Mahia Peninsula.
Rocket Lab’s launch site on Mahia Peninsula.

When advising NASA and the US State Department of New Zealand’s intention to sign the accords, the agency said it “framed the decision in the context of New Zealand’s approach to space resource utilisation”.

It said it believed existing international law was insufficient to regulate space resource utilisation, and that it required additional rules to be developed.

In a cable from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, officials wrote about the issue of space resources.

“In future, the extraction and utilisation of space resources could support economic activity in orbit and on Earth through the sale of valuable minerals, fuels and other resources in almost limitless supply.

“For example, asteroids will be an abundant source of valuable minerals, and the lunar crust of the moon contains helium-3, which could, in theory, be used as a significant source of energy generation on Earth.”

The extraction and utilisation of space resources is expected to be feasible in the next few years.

The Space Agency noted that signing the accords presented some risk to international relationships.

“The accords may be viewed by some nations as an attempt to bypass the UN Committee on the Peaceful Use of Outer Space process and the UN treaty-making process,” the agency said.

Along with New Zealand and the United States, Australia, the United Kingdom, Canada, Japan and Mexico are also signed up, with 15 countries or states party to the agreement.

Australia is signed up to the Accords, and the Australian Space Agency will build a 20-kilogram semi-autonomous lunar rover for NASA to take to the moon as early as 2026 in search of oxygen.
Australia is signed up to the Accords, and the Australian Space Agency will build a 20-kilogram semi-autonomous lunar rover for NASA to take to the moon as early as 2026 in search of oxygen.

China and Russia have not signed the accords.

Rocket Lab’s CAPSTONE launch is expected to take place in March, having been delayed from last year.

As well as testing a lunar orbit for a proposed lunar space station, it will also test a new navigation system that wouldn’t require ground stations.

The lunar space station could use the navigation system, and will feature living quarters for astronauts, a lab for scientists and researchers, and will be a port for lunar activities.

See: Original Article