We've put together something pretty special - we're going national with small livestream watch parties and speakers located all over the country!

If you're planning on tuning in with a group of friends or colleagues, register your watch party with us at enquiries@christchurch.space

Please note the below event information:

5.00pm - In-person networking at Watch Party Location

5.30pm - Presentations commence ONLINE - ZOOM LINK HERE

Planned Presentations:

A Refugee Perspective

Mekdim Tesfaye, Founder, Oasis Orbital Systems

There is something magical about getting to see the planet from a higher perspective. Boarding a plane and coming to New Zealand as a refugee in 2000, I fell in love with aerospace. Being able to leave my troubles behind in search of a new, safer place to call home had a profound impact on my entire family. Fast forward to 2021 and I'm fortunate to have the opportunity to share the magic of that higher perspective with others. My venture Oasis Orbital Systems is a Virtual Space Tourism start-up operating out of the University of Canterbury's Center for Entrepreneurship with a mission to deliver affordable and Immersive space tourism.

Nova Systems Rebrands – positioned to support future growth of Aerospace in Aotearoa New Zealand.

Jude Rushmere, General Manager, Nova Systems New Zealand

Nova Systems is a global engineering services and technology solutions company, partnering with our clients to keep our nations and people safe and secure. Nova Systems has been supporting clients in Aotearoa New Zealand since 2014 and has seen rapid growth over the past 2 years. Much of which has been due to the capabilities and potential within Aotearoa New Zealand’s growing aerospace sector. Nova Systems has recently rebranded to showcase its growth and emphasise the breadth of its capabilities.

Airbourne Astronomy on SOFIA

Ms Karina Leppik, Astronomy Educator and Guide for the Antarctic Academy

Karina Leppik will talk about Astronomy of the Southern skies from her role as a NASA Mission Director through to her work alongside the International Antarctic Centre. She will be supported by Miranda Satterthwaite Academy Director at the Antarctic Academy who will be guiding for the Southern Lights Flights operating from the International Antarctic Centre.

Te Pūnaha Ātea – Space Institute, University of Auckland

Prof Guglielmo Aglietti, Director, Te Pūnaha Ātea Space Institute

The Institute, formally established in 2019 across science and engineering, aims to support and enhance the growth of the National Space Sector. This is being achieved articulating a series of activities, ranging from new courses and programmes to research projects, to partnerships with other institution, and the establishment of facilities for the end to end development and in orbit demonstration of technologies. The talk will give an overview of what has been achieved and future developments.

Reaching The Stratosphere And Beyond

Dr. Philipp Sueltrop, CTO, Kea Aerospace

Kea Aerospace is developing a solar-powered, remotely piloted aircraft that will fly continuously in the stratosphere for months at a time to collect frequent high-resolution aerial images. Philipp will give an update on the company’s plans to build a global fleet of stratospheric aircraft.

See you there!

Aerospace Christchurch

Please Note: As per the government COVID-19 protection framework, all in-person attendees will need to have their Vaccine Pass scanned before they enter the event. In-person watch parties may be cancelled at short notice in line with the COVID-19 protection framework. In this case, we will move the Meet Up completely online.

Thank you to our various hosts for supporting this event.