Mark Rocket, a key figure in New Zealand’s aerospace sector, is spearheading efforts to establish Ōtautahi Christchurch as a major aerospace hub through his company Kea Aerospace. Drawing on his early experience as a seed investor and co-director of Rocket Lab, Rocket aims to build on Christchurch’s manufacturing base and unique geographic advantages to foster a growing cluster of aerospace businesses.

Rocket Lab, co-founded by Rocket and Sir Peter Beck, first gained international attention in 2009 with the launch of the Ātea-1 miniature rocket from Great Mercury Island, which briefly reached the edge of space before being lost at sea. While Rocket Lab expanded operations primarily in Auckland and the United States, Rocket returned his focus to Christchurch, identifying the city as an ideal location for aerospace development due to its status as New Zealand’s second-largest manufacturing hub, low air traffic, and proximity to Antarctica.

With co-founder Philipp Sueltrop, Rocket established Kea Aerospace, which is developing the Atmos, a solar-powered unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) designed for extended flights lasting weeks. The original prototype, Atmos Mark I, conducted a successful stratospheric test flight in February 2022 from the Tāwhaki National Aerospace Centre near Christchurch, capturing high-resolution images from 17,000 meters. Rocket emphasizes the UAV’s ability to deliver detailed aerial photography at a lower cost compared to satellites or manned aircraft.

In June, Kea Aerospace secured a $17.5 million capital injection, enabling the company to expand into a new 3,000-square-meter manufacturing and mission control center located in Burnside, Christchurch. This facility supports development of the larger Atmos Mark II, featuring a wingspan of 35 meters—nearly triple that of the Mark I—to accommodate more solar panels and extend flight endurance to weeks or even months. The site also includes space for future growth, with plans to scale production to dozens and eventually hundreds of aircraft for customers worldwide. The Burnside facility also hosts an aerospace hub dedicated to supporting start-ups, including Auckland-based Astrix Astronautics, which is developing inflatable solar cells for satellites and counts Sir Peter Beck among its investors.

This initiative is part of Christchurch City Council’s economic development strategy through its agency ChristchurchNZ, which runs the Business Landing Pad program aimed at attracting and accelerating innovative companies in the region.

Rocket has played a pivotal role in fostering the local aerospace ecosystem, serving as founding president of Aerospace Christchurch—now Aerospace New Zealand—and helping to establish the annual Aerospace Summit, held at the city’s convention center, Te Pae, since 2022.

Military involvement in Kea’s growth is notable. Air Vice-Marshal Darryn Webb and other Royal New Zealand Air Force (RNZAF) officials attended the opening of Kea’s Burnside center. Webb confirmed a strong ongoing relationship between the RNZAF and Kea Aerospace, noting that the Wigram Aerodrome has been utilized for early testing of the Atmos UAV. The Air Force views Kea’s technology as potentially valuable for border security and maritime surveillance, particularly amid government plans to acquire domestic drone capabilities under a $300 million defense technology investment.

The RNZAF is currently seeking input from industry on uncrewed systems capable of long-range maritime surveillance, with requirements including operation at distances up to 1,400 nautical miles for up to six hours, providing near real-time high-definition imaging day or night. Webb emphasized the importance of collaboration between defense forces and private companies to meet emerging surveillance needs.

Beyond defense, Rocket identifies applications for the Atmos Mark II in forestry, precision agriculture, and search and rescue operations. He highlights the UAV’s ability to operate at lower altitudes than satellites, providing superior image resolution, and its operational advantages over airplanes, helicopters, and traditional drones, which are typically limited in flight duration.

Kea Aerospace’s expansion represents a significant development in establishing Christchurch as a competitive aerospace innovation center, with ambitions to grow from a nascent cluster into a global industry player.