Space
New Zealand launches Aerospace Strategy
New Zealand is unlikely to send people to space any time soon, but the strategy will help support the aerospace sector's continued development, MBIE says. Audio
Aerospace Strategy launched
New Zealand has launched its first ever Aerospace Strategy to help support the sector's continued development.
The strategy runs until 2030 and revolves around five goals including actively… Audio
Progress made on reusable rocket
Rocket Lab is making progress with its plan to make the world's first reusable small rocket.
Yesterday it launched its 39th Electron mission and successfully returned the rocket to Earth, before… Audio
India's historic Moon mission lifts off successfully
Thousands of people watched the launch from the viewer's gallery and commentators described the sight of the rocket "soaring in the sky" as "majestic".
Celebrating the New Zealand night sky
As we lead up to Matariki, we remember and reflect on the past, celebrate the present, and look ahead to the future. Writer and illustrator Alistair Hughes joins Nights to chat with Mark about his new… Audio
Stargazers check out big bright 'buck moon'
Stargazers and onlookers are observing a full moon as "bigger and brighter" than usual this week and there is a reason. A supermoon, or what Nasa is describing as a buck moon, has been spotted in the… Audio
Avi Loeb: Underwater hunt for alien debris
In 2014, an interstellar object - thought to be from another star system - crashed into the Pacific Ocean near Papua New Guinea. Harvard astronomer Avi Loeb is now leading a sea-going search, hoping… Audio
The long and short of the Winter Solstice
It's a special day today... The winter solstice! The shortest day of the year. Now, all around the country, brave kiwis are diving into the sea for the midwinter dip. Meanwhile in Otago, Dr Ian… Audio
Matauranga Maori at reopened Stardome
Auckland's Stardome observatory has reopened with a ceremony this morning, after a six-month, two million dollar ($2m) refurbishment. It's the most significant upgrade in more than 25 years and… Audio
Historic telescope back in business
The historic Townsend Teece telescope in Otautahi Christchurch was badly damaged in the 2011 earthquake, but has been expertly restored and is now reinstalled back in its central city home at the Arts… Audio
Alan Gilmore: What's bugging Betelgeuse?
One of the brightest stars in the sky is behaving strangely, pulsating from bright to dim twice as quickly as usual. At the moment Betelgeuse is very bright in the night. What's going on? Audio
Thomas Hertog: Stephen Hawking's final radical theory
Once upon a time, perhaps, there was no time. Audio
NASA's UFO panel says better data needed
The panel, assembling experts from fields ranging from physics to astrobiology, was formed last June to examine unclassified UFO sightings.
Rocket Lab scores out-of-this-world bargains as Virgin Orbit crashes
Rocket Lab is buying some of bankrupt Virgin Orbit's assets to help speed up production of its Neutron rocket.
Former Otago Uni student makes history as first female Arab to go to space
The University of Otago says it is extremely proud of former student Rayyanah Barnawi, who is officially the first Arab woman to go to space.
Astronomers detect largest cosmic explosion ever seen
This explosion is more than 10 times brighter than any recorded exploding star - known as a supernova.
Technology: Aussie tech spend-up, big week for NZ
Tech commentator Peter Griffin joins Kathryn to talk about the significant spend included in this week's Australian federal Budget. Could Prime Minister Chris Hipkins pledge to make next week's New… Audio
James Webb Telescope finds a new asteroid belt
New high resolution images captured by the James Webb Space Telescope show a newly discovered asteroid belt in a star system that sits about 25 light years from earth.
Scientists used the telescope… Audio
Space the final frontier: James Parr on AI
The resignation of 75 year old Artificial Intelligence Pioneer Jeffrey Hinton from Google has been headline news over the last day or two, with many asking if AI has become too powerful? Nathan Rarere… Audio
Ingredients to form new celestial bodies found
The James Webb Space Telescope has found the building blocks of new planets located in a galaxy neighbouring the Milky Way.
