Home

Recent Posts on our Facebook Page

Sat 12 Nov: Apply now for the ISU Southern Hemisphere Summer Space Program -- registration closes 30 November. Run by the International Space University, this intensive, 5-week, live-in course is open to New Zealand students - and funding support is available. The program curriculum focuses on space applications, space policy and space services, while giving a well rounded overview of the principles and concepts involved in space physical science, space systems engineering and technology, space life sciences, space and society, space business and management and space legal and regulatory issues. As in other ISU programs, students will benefit from the shared experience of an international, interactive working environment shared with other professionals, graduate researchers and senior undergraduate students. Program graduates will become part of the international network of ISU alumni, faculty members and visiting lecturers (numbering more than 3,000 to date). A recording of an introductory webinar is also available: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qKIPo_ywS-Q (Comment | Like)

Southern Hemisphere Program (SHS-SP)
International Space University

Fri 11 Nov: KiwiSpace is off to 'Mars' -- In April/May 2012 a team of 6 people will be living and working in the simulated Mars environment, provided by the Mars Society. The Mars Desert Research Station (MDRS) is a habitat in the Utah desert - isolated and barren, providing a similar environment to what astronauts would experience on the real Mars. We're only just getting started on the project, but will post more in the near future. We'll be putting out calls for research to be performed, and we're after a few more primary and backup crew members - and we hope to get lots of schools following along with the mission and interacting with the crew members. So if you want to get involved with the project in any capacity, get in touch. (Comment | Like)

Mars Desert Research Station - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
The Mars Desert Research Station (MDRS) is the second of four planned simulated Mars surface exploration habitats (or Mars Analogue Research Stations) owned and operated by the Mars Society.

Mon 24 Oct: The deadline for team registration for the 2012 Lunabotics competition is fast approaching - 30 November 2011. This looks like an incredibly fun competition, and it would be fantastic to see a NZ team entered -- chat to your tutors, faculty, etc. (Comment | Like)

NASA - Lunabotics Mining Competition
The Lunabotics Mining Competition is a U.S. and international challenging university student teams to design, build, and compete an excavator that can mine and deposit a minimum of 10 kg of lunar simulant within ten minutes at Kennedy Space Center.

Wed 12 Oct: Want to learn more about KiwiSpace, the people behind World Space Week in NZ?; and potentially join our ranks of passionate space ambassadors -- then attend our online meeting this Sunday evening, 8-9:30pm. RSVP using this link http://anyvite.com/fjnwplbdtu. And share this invite with any other people you know who may be interested. (Comment | Like)

KiwiSpace October Meeting
Monthly meeting ONLINE, for all members of KiwiSpace Foundation or interested participants. This is the monthly meeting where we update all members on happenings, and make key decisions. INVITE OTHERS If you know of anyone who you think may be interested in getting involved with KiwiSpace, invite th...

Tue 11 Oct: Our final installment of this year’s World Space Week features two amazing people: Talia Page the Executive Director WSW and Stanislav Fort the winner of the World Space Week’s Youth Inspiration Programme and consequently a flight into zero-gravity onboard the (aptly nicknamed) ‘Vomit Comet‘. We discuss what will sustain people till next space week, Stanislav’s vision for humanity as a young, smart inspiring physicist, and what role creativity has in driving mankind out amongst the stars. (Comment | Like)

World Space Week Podcast #8: Talia Page, Exectutive Director of World Space Week Association | Free.
Talia page, executive director of the world space week association, discusses what's in store for us this year

What's on?

Featured Articles

An Evening With Southern Stars (Sep 2011)
In the western night sky something special shines strong and bright amongst a sparkling sea of stars. It seems star-like but the telescope reveals it’s wonderful colours, it’s huge ring of ice and rock and it’s underlying perfectly round form. It’s Saturn. And it’s breathtakingly stunning.... Read more

NZ Rocket Altitude Set (Sep 2011)
A sleek carbon fiber rocket built by two residents of Dairy Flat, Albany, Joel Schiff & Martin Aspell, was launched from the New Zealand Rocketry Association site at Taupiri near Huntly, on 20th February 2011. It took off from a specially built tower built to accommodate their 98mm diameter, 2.6m long rocket. The rocket took off with a great roar and the motor seemed to burn forever (actually 13 seconds) which helped keep the rocket in view.... Read more

New Zealand from the International Space Station (Apr 2011)
These wonderful photos were taken as the International Space Station flew over New Zealand. Some images include elements of the ISS, and spacecraft docked to the station.... Read more

Heaven on Earth - A visit to JPL (Mar 2011)
Recently I had the good fortune to visit the Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL) in Pasadena, California. A good friend, Asif Ahmed, happens to be a rocket scientist who works there and he kindly showed my son and I around the facility. JPL was headed by the celebrated New Zealander, Sir William Pickering, from 1954 to 1976, during the period when the USA launched its first artificial satellite in 1958, Explorer 1, that was designed and built by JPL. The Jet Propulsion Laboratory has always been affiliated with the California Institute of Technology, and under Pickering also became a part of NASA. Below are some photos taken during our visit.... Read more

Christchurch Earthquake - Satellite Imagery (Feb 2011)

New Zealand is currently experiencing one of its worst natural disasters since the Hawke's Bay earthquake in 1931. One factor that differs significantly between now and then, is the availability of satellites and space applications. While New Zealand has no satellites of its own, through international disaster charters, the first satellite images have been obtained, highlighting areas of damage.

... Read more