US Eyes New Zealand as Possible Space Launch Site

The United States government is increasingly looking to New Zealand as a possible space launch site, as the Pentagon warns that existing infrastructure is struggling to keep pace with an unprecedented surge in missions. A recent Congressional briefing paper (pdf) says the U.S. Space Force anticipates supporting 173 launches in 2026—a massive jump from just 25 a decade earlier. With the addition of SpaceX’s giant “Starship” rockets, that number may top 300 annual launches by 2035, placing unsustainable pressure on famous sites like Cape Canaveral. As a result, the U.S. Department of Defense is searching for alternatives. A new military appropriations bill has tasked the Secretary of the Air Force with finding launch sites outside the continental United States....