New Zealand launches first space rocket
Tue Dec 1 2009 15:55:37
New Zealand has launched its first space rocket. The 6m-long rocket Atea-1 took off at about 2.30pm from Great Mercury Island.
Approximately 50 people gathered at the site to watch the successful attempt.
It burned for about 20 seconds, reaching its target with speeds of up to Mach 5, or 5,000km per hour.
The rocket reached the altitude of at least 100km and spent between ten and 20 minutes in the sky before splashing down, according to New Zealand media.
It is the first time a privately-owned rocket was launched in the southern hemisphere.
Atea is a Maori word for space. The team said they wanted an indigenous name for the rocket.
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The 6-meter-long rocket "Atea-1" reached an altitude of 100 kilometres and spent between 10 and 20 minutes in the sky before splashing down.
