Our guest speaker took sick so we asked for stories from the meeting.Our second up and from the floor, was David Peploe, son of our Brian, and Security Chief for Rocket Lab.
He sort of filled in the Sergeant’s spot and told us about this company.
They have 2000 staff (US & NZ). While a US company they got the Mahia site as a cheaper launch option than the US. (Christchurch had been considered but some snails got in the way!)
He described the launch pads, 3D printed engines, smaller than the US ones, but can reach London in 48 minutes. He told us of the recently achieved engine recovery – which can save millions. It costs around $18 million to do a launch. (Money “rocketed from our pockets into the Sergeant’s box.)