Mark Rocket

Hello, here are some updates on my aerospace journey so far. Last updated March 12th, 2025.

After being inspired by speakers at the International Space Development Conference in Los Angeles in 2006, I started looking around at aerospace opportunities to develop in New Zealand. I commenced commercial operations of Rocket Lab in 2007 with business partner Peter Beck. I was the seed investor and co-Director until 2011.

In 2007, it was an audacious goal to develop a space company in New Zealand. Compared to other space-faring nations, New Zealand had no government space program and no previous support for space enterprises. On November 30th, 2009 Rocket Lab launched a suborbital rocket from Great Mercury Island. Rocket Lab’s first Atea-1 (pictured left), called Manu Karere, lifted off at 2.28 pm and performed a full 22-second burn. Rocket Lab was the first private company in the Southern Hemisphere to reach space.

This early launch success and other aerospace technology development projects resulted in the company winning a range of international contracts. In 2013, Rocket Lab announced the commencement of an orbital program and reached orbit for the first time in 2018. It’s superb to see Rocket Lab going from strength to strength with ambitious plans for the future.

Kea Aerospace kicked off in 2018. We’d been looking for interesting aerospace opportunities and the solar-powered, stratospheric aircraft concept resonated on many levels. Read more about Kea Aerospace’s genesis story and the Kea Atmos aircraft. It’s been an exciting journey so far and on February 8th, 2025 we reached the stratosphere for the first time.

In 2018, I was part of a group that created the first aerospace meetups in Christchurch. We’ve now run numerous meetups and have established an industry body called Aerospace New Zealand with an extensive network of members and associates. The New Zealand Aerospace Summit is the year’s highlight calendar event and brings together New Zealand and international aerospace industry participants. I’m very honoured to be President of the Committee with a group of outstanding aerospace industry experts.