Pioneers in New Zealand's embryonic space industry say they will start work within weeks on their first flight engine for a domestically-launched sub-orbital rocket.
Peter Beck, of Auckland, said his Rocket Lab was developing small unmanned rockets for commercial use, and was already working through the details of two international launch services contracts he hoped would be signed later this year.
Rocket Lab was also set to present a paper at an Australian space industry conference, and was developing more new aerospace products.
Mr Beck said the lab had just finished analysing data from its testing of a prototype engine over the past two months.
Rocket Lab had also patented an experimental fuel to carry its rockets into the ionosphere.
"The performance results we achieved were even better than our calculations predicted," Mr Beck said.
"It is a rare thing in this game when you exceed theoretical calculated performance".
The flight engine design had been updated take account of the higher performance.
"We are in a final weight-review stage trying to tediously extract every last gram out of the engine case," Mr Beck said. "Once this is complete we will start the manufacture of the first flight engine".
He said work would start on building the first flight engine in August, and when completed, would go through a range of ground tests to measure vibration, heat, and pressure cycling.
Mr Beck said Rocket Lab had identified a number of suitable launch sites both in New Zealand and internationally, but launch dates would ultimately depend on the requirements of clients.
Mr Beck began his space career by mixing rocket fuel in his Dunedin flat while he was working as an engineer for Fisher & Paykel in Mosgiel 10 years ago, testing his products in the F&P carpark.
He later worked at state science company Industrial Research, and moved into fulltime rocket research in 2007, forming Rocket Lab, with internet entrepreneur Mark Rocket.
Mr Rocket, who changed his name from Stevens, was the first New Zealander to book a seat on Virgin Galactic's sub-orbital space flight in 2010.
Rocket Lab is also working on a smaller scale: "sounding" rockets which take measurements for scientific use, and rockets to take small payloads into space - such as cremated remains.
Mr Beck said the lab's 5m Atea rocket would have a maximum altitude of 250km, and it was hoped to be sending them on sub-orbital flights, to an altitude of more than 100km, within the year.
NZPA