Great South’s highly successful space operations business became stand-alone company Space Operations New Zealand Ltd. in October 2021.
This was following increasing demand from international small satellite companies for its commercial and civilian ground station services and launch support services at Awarua, between Invercargill and Bluff, Southland.
Southland is ideally located for satellite ground stations, given its proximity to the South Pole, flat land with excellent horizon sightlines and lack of radio interference.
Space Operations NZ owns its own antennas that are leased to satellite operators, hosts antennas for international small satellite companies and provides downrange support for international launch companies, including Rocket Lab, founded by Southland's Peter Beck.
Southland has had an active role in the space community since 2004 when the Awarua Satellite Ground Station was established in conjunction with the European and French Space Agencies.
It is New Zealand’s only commercial low earth orbit satellite ground station, where data is downloaded from satellites and spacecraft are commanded.
The satellites are used for all manner of purposes, including tracking shipping containers, measuring the atmosphere, imaging the earth, calibrating satellite navigation systems and providing internet services.
Space Operations NZ is a wholly owned subsidiary of Great South.
Awarua Satellite Ground Station image courtesy of Dave Allen, NIWA