Rocket Lab Can Be Used To Wage War From Outer Space – Greens
Critics of Rocket Lab say there is no guarantee that launches for foreign governments will not be used to promote the use of nuclear weapons.
New Zealand-based Rocket Lab Successfully released NASA’s Capstone spacecraft on its way to the Moon Recently, among other missions.
Both the company and the government have denied claims by the Green Party that launching on behalf of the Pentagon could enable warfare from space.
“The weaponization of space is not in our national interests and runs counter to our international commitment to ensuring peace in space,” said Tinow Tuiono, the Green Party’s spokesman for security and intelligence. ‘ said. said in a statement.
“The government should put in place clear rules to stop our weapons being used to launch rockets on behalf of foreign militaries.”
Rocket Lab founder Peter Beck said Newshub and new zealand herald The company said it does not carry weapons.
“We are not going to launch weapons or anything that would destroy the environment or harm people,” he said. told newshub last year.
Sonya Smith, a spokesperson for the watchdog group Rocket Lab Monitor, said New Zealand officials have no power to control what happens after launch.
“Essentially, the policy says we don’t mean to do any harm.
“So I think the intentions are good, but the reality of the end result is that the technologies and their payloads are most certainly possible and likely to be used in a war setting.”
Smith said the U.S. Defense Force is open about plans to use satellites for military purposes.
Minister for Economic and Regional Development Stuart Nash said: new aerospace strategy A public hearing was held in September.
In that announcement, Nash announced a review of New Zealand’s space policy.
“The Space Policy Review is an opportunity for New Zealanders to voice their opinions on the values and policy objectives that inform the government’s activities and engagement in space.
“Feedback will capture our values about space and contribute to the development of a new National Space Policy that will inform future space policy developments, including regulatory or legislative changes to the Space and High Altitude Activities Act 2017. To do.”
Elizabeth Kerekere, Green Party spokesperson for Māori development, said more Māori input into space policy is needed.
“Tangata whenua should have a greater say in what happens in that whenua. Rocket Lab’s presence in Mahia is an example of tangata whenua being shut out of the decision-making process.”
“In support of Mana Fenua, I will attend the public consultation on the National Space Policy Review in Mahia,” she said.
https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/national/476771/rocket-lab-could-be-used-to-make-war-from-space-green-party Rocket Lab Can Be Used To Wage War From Outer Space – Greens