Comments on: Rocket Lab: Helping the US wage endless wars from space

By: John

John — Wed, 26 Oct 2022 18:52:34 +0000

So ownership of the company and the launching of US Intelligence satellites isn’t sufficient evidence?

What do you need, John Wayne in USMC uniform standing guard outside?

By: John

John — Wed, 26 Oct 2022 18:47:49 +0000

None of what you say precludes putting a stop to the US Military using NZ land to launch intelligence satellites. John didn’t say civilian satellites should not be launched.

By: Keepcalmcarryon

Keepcalmcarryon — Tue, 25 Oct 2022 07:17:20 +0000

Straws, and how to clutch them.

By: Harriet Kings

Harriet Kings — Tue, 25 Oct 2022 05:38:43 +0000

Good on John Minto for highlighting Rocket Lab’s (and the New Zealand government’s) direct involvement in, and support for, the US war machine. The hardware Rocket Lab is launching is designed for high resolution battlefield targeting and facilitation of other “special operations” such as assassinations and dronings. This means high-profile wars like Ukraine, as well as the other six or seven live-fire conflicts the US is presently involved in. Government sign-offs and Beck’s “assurances” are cleverly worded obfuscation of this stark reality. When was the NZ public asked if it supports our direct involvement in the endless global US war making project. Rocket Lab is no longer a NZ company. It is a wholly controlled subsidiary of Lockheed Martin, the biggest US military contractor of all. Let Rocket Lab go it’s own way.
End military payloads from Mahia and insist all military-related, or dual use, payloads be launched only from the company’s other launch site in Virginia or elsewhere outside NZ.
Thank you, John

By: Andrew

Andrew — Tue, 25 Oct 2022 05:37:13 +0000

Via SpaceX, just as they are now.

In terms of capability, Rocket Lab isn’t that much ahead of Germany’s V2 rocket in the 1940’s.

By: SPC

SPC — Tue, 25 Oct 2022 04:47:40 +0000

A nuclear strike target. Really? If nukes were being used in a conflict, a launch pad for future satellites would not be that important.

A more salient point is it resourcing the identification and targeting of civilians, here or in Oz or any other democracy.

By: Alitjo

Alitjo — Tue, 25 Oct 2022 04:39:28 +0000

The decentralization of Space Corps launch platforms will factor in political acceptance. NZ needs a precautionary approach to develop our capacity for credible moral station in international diplomacy. In short, a Bugger Off Boeing policy.

By: Lois Griffiths

Lois Griffiths — Tue, 25 Oct 2022 03:17:36 +0000

Rocket Lab is owned by Lockheed-Martin.
And NZ Superfund invests in Raytheon.
Our country is part of the American military machine, profiteering from war.

By: Wayne

Wayne — Tue, 25 Oct 2022 01:13:06 +0000

This is an issue I know a great deal about. Yes, Rocket Lab has launched satellites for the USDOD and Dapra. However, they are no more than testing experimental technologies. Mostly small radio and communication systems. Rocket Lab satellites are too small to have any actual military utility. In any event the US would always want to launch actual military satellites from within the US. Either by Space X or ULA from Cape Canaveral or Vandenberg on the West Coast. These satellites weigh several thousand kilograms.
As for these launches making New Zealand a potential target. Well, that is an absurd proposition. Mahia is no more likely to be a target than the Devonport naval base or Waiouru military camp. In other words, the risk is about zero.

By: Albert

Albert — Tue, 25 Oct 2022 00:39:44 +0000

>>>”John has chosen not to mention all the good stuff Rocket lab helps achieve.”
As did you.