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Dear John, At the end of June, New Zealand’s own Rocket Lab launched the CAPSTONE mission to the Moon which marks the beginning of the NASA project to return people to the moon. It is 50 years since humanity first went there. As founder of Rocket Lab Peter Beck said “This is a historic mission for NASA, for New Zealand/Aotearoa and for the global space industry.” There are some very notable things about the launch that occurred on 28 June as scheduled and continues to be on track. The first is that the small New Zealand developed Electron rocket was launched into a Low Earth orbit and slowly increased its path towards the Moon over many orbits. Usually Rocket Lab’s missions deploy satellites to around 500km above Earth’s surface. Next the Electron rocket is only 18 metres tall compared to the rockets used in the 1960’s and 1970’s that were around 120 metres tall. Electron is also a very fuel efficient rocket compared to previous ones. This launch cost $NZ16million whereas the Apollo missions cost hundreds of millions each. “For the CAPSTONE mission, our rocket and spacecraft will send a NASA satellite more than 1.3 million kilometres, taking the long way around before finally settling into orbit around the Moon.” Peter Beck advised. The orbit around the Moon is totally new and it is called a Near Rectilinear Halo Orbit or NRHO which uses the gravitational pulls of Earth and the Moon to interact and provide an almost stable orbit. Establishing this new orbit will greatly help NASA when they move to “park” larger space craft in this orbit so that astronauts can use them as a base for a Moon landing under a programme named ‘Artemis” New Zealanders should be proud of the team at Rocket Lab who number 600 people and who are providing a world leading space sector that in future will include missions to Mars and Venus. Rocket Lab have established New Zealand's space industry and now it is leading the partnership with the USA, one of the great space-exploring nations. For more information about RocketLab see www.rocketlab.co.nz Faster Internet Through the select committee process I am continuing to lobby for a better ultra-fast broadband rollout in Papakura and I questioned the Minister David Clark about the lack of UFB in Clevedon, Whitford, Brookby, Hunua and Orere Point which may be rural areas, but they are part of Auckland City. I know that people are stressed in these rural parts of our electorate because they are stuck with inadequate internet access which is so necessary for all manner of tasks and communication in our daily lives. The Minister said the UFB rollout was running ahead of schedule and would be 87% complete by the end of this year. When I asked about penalties being levied for delays in meeting targets he said the issue of penalties had never arisen because it was on track. Any extension to the planned rollout would have to be covered by the private sector. The Government’s budget estimate includes $15m for rural connectivity for 5,200 people. Crown Infrastructure Partners chief executive Graham Mitchell told the select committee the focus was on connecting rural communities. In the meantime he said that rural areas would keep their copper connections which were only being withdrawn in urban areas. As we know copper connections are inadequate and it is questionable whether $15million is enough when many of the people who should and need to benefit, currently have no connectivity at all. It is an issue that I will continue to pressure the Minister on while so many Aucklanders are affected by this serious lack of internet services. New Principal at Rosehill College At the end of July, Rosehill College is welcoming a new Principal, Davida Suasua, who comes to the College from Tangaroa College in Otara where she has been principal. Ms Suasua will be welcomed by teachers and students into the Rosehill College whānau through pōwhiri. I wish the College continued success as Ms Suasua takes over its leadership. Quota Antiques Fair Once again the Quota Club in Papakura and Pukekohe are putting on their wonderful Antique Fair at the Drury School Hall, this Saturday 9 July and Sunday 10 July from 9.30am to 4.00pm, both days. Everyone is welcome and as well as antique treasures of every sort, they serve home-baking in their café. All proceeds including from the $8 entry fee and café, go to a local charity. Take care, keep warm and well, Judith
Hon Judith
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