US Eyes New Zealand as Possible Space Launch Site

Recent papers reveal New Zealand is becoming a vital global space hub.
US Eyes New Zealand as Possible Space Launch Site
NASA's Orion spacecraft on the Artemis II mission at Kennedy Space Center in Cape Canaveral, Florida on April 1, 2026. Joel Kowsky/NASA via Getty Images
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The United States government is increasingly looking to New Zealand as a possible space launch site, as the Pentagon warns that existing infrastructure is struggling to keep pace with an unprecedented surge in missions.

A recent Congressional briefing paper (pdf) says the U.S. Space Force anticipates supporting 173 launches in 2026—a massive jump from just 25 a decade earlier.
Rex Widerstrom
Rex Widerstrom
Author
Rex Widerstrom is a New Zealand-based reporter with over 40 years of experience in media, including radio and print. He is currently a presenter for Hutt Radio.