On 31 May 2025 (US time) New Zealand made space-flight history when Mark Rocket crossed the Kármán line aboard Blue Origin’s New Shepard, becoming the nation’s first astronaut. Join us for a special Aerospace Elevator session as Mark shares an inside look at training, launch, weightlessness and re-entry, and what his flight means for New Zealand’s fast-growing aerospace ecosystem.
Discussion points
• What it’s really like to leave Earth, float weightless, and take in the view of our planet from space
• Insights from capsule training, mission simulations and crew dynamics
• How commercial suborbital flights open new doors for Kiwi research, education and industry
• Audience Q&A on careers, technology and New Zealand’s next steps in space
Have a question for Mark? Use the link below to submit your question.
SUBMIT YOUR QUESTIONS FOR MARK HERE.
Speaker:
Mark Rocket
President, Aerospace New Zealand | CEO, Kea Aerospace
Mark Rocket has dedicated his career to advancing New Zealand’s aerospace industry. Both as an advocate and a hands-on entrepreneur. He helped seed and co-direct Rocket Lab (2007 – 2011), founded Kea Aerospace to develop solar-powered stratospheric aircraft for Earth-observation, and serves as President of Aerospace New Zealand. His recent New Shepard flight (mission NS-32) places him among a select group of commercial astronauts worldwide.