New Zealand boosts space launch limit from 100 to 1,000

New Zealand will raise its space launch limit from 100 to 1,000 to fuel the growth of its space and advanced aviation sectors.



The change follows a review of regulations for space vehicle launch debris in New Zealand's Exclusive Economic Zone and Continental Shelf, which found low environmental risk from up to 1,000 launches.



Projections show the new limit will not be reached until at least 2050, giving long-term certainty for industry planning and investment, adding that without lifting the limit, additional launches would have required a time-consuming marine consent process.



The space sector contributed about 1.5 billion U.S. dollars to the economy in 2024, up 48 percent in five years, while advanced aviation added an estimated about 290.77 million U.S. dollars