Te Pūnaha Ātea
Space Institute

The Space Institute – Te Pūnaha Ātea – is a multidisciplinary centre of expertise in space science and engineering, including a capability to execute space missions and develop applications. Our institutional mission is to create, disseminate and exploit knowledge to support and enhance the development of the New Zealand Space Sector.

We carry out applied research in space science, engineering, and applications of space data, as well as run educational activities that shape the next generation of scientists and engineers.

We work with national and international establishments, industrial partners and academic institutions, operating in an ecosystem that thrives thanks to the complementary nature of our activities. Working from original ideas, to modelling, to proof of concept (Manufacture, Assembly, Integration and Test), to in-orbit demonstrations, we apply research findings to develop engineering solutions that support the growth of new and existing enterprises.

Through our strategic partnerships, we have direct access to space that enables in-orbit demonstrations of technologies, and we are developing a multifunctional mission control capability to operate satellites and payloads, transforming raw data into useful information.

Our seamless end-to-end capability gives our students an exceptional learning experience, which, enhanced by our close partnerships with industry, puts them in a privileged position to meet the employment demands of a growing international aerospace sector.

Research

Spacecraft microvibrations
and stable structures
Deployable
structures
Correlation/validation of FEM
and virtual shaker testing
Synthetic aperture radar technology development
Plasma micro-propulsion 
Materials Science for
sample return
On-Orbit High Performance Computing
Synthetic protein crystallisation in microgravity
Magnetic thrust vectoring
Space situational awareness

News