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Rocket Launch in New Zealand Brings Quick, Cheap Space Access

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Re: Rocket Launch in New Zealand Brings Quick, Cheap Space Access

#171

Post by tootahe45 »

peatmoss wrote: post #2

The years I spent in New Zealand painted a vivid picture of a society of doers. I think there’s something to the idea that this comes in part from being a landmass the size of Colorado, with not much more than 4 million people, with the freedom and requirements to maintain the infrastructure of being a sovereign nation. Seeing a NZ rocket launch condures an image of a small group of doers dreaming big. Way to go NZ!

It's unfortunate that the doers leave NZ as soon as possible to do stuff elsewhere most of the time.

Re: Rocket Launch in New Zealand Brings Quick, Cheap Space Access

#172

Post by dredds »

T-A wrote: post #86
InTheArena wrote: post #38

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Only the Chinese get to drop rockets on their towns. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DJRZ-eyncVk The Red Plume you see is Hypergolic fuels - the aforementioned "bad stuff". Highly toxic and carcinogenic.

It's been worse... https://www.airspacemag.com/history-of-flight/disaster-at-xi...

Possibly next-gen small fission reactors will have them looking for close-to-deep-ocean far-from-large-population launch sites again.

https://www.nasa.gov/press-release/demonstration-proves-nucl...

Re: Rocket Launch in New Zealand Brings Quick, Cheap Space Access

#173

Post by unknown_apostle »

toomanybeersies wrote: post #163
nathan_f77 wrote: post #157

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I also grew up in New Zealand, and it's not for me. It's great if you want to start a family and have a very quiet life. I think I might retire there if I can somehow afford a house. One of the main reasons I left is that I could never afford a house, or even the down-payment on a mortgage. If I had lots of money then New Zealand would probably be more appealing to me, but it's not a good place to earn it. I don't kn…

I think you've really hit the nail on the head there. I also grew up in New Zealand and left for Australia for the reasons that you specified. Cost of living is the same or higher than Australia, but with lower wages. My grocery bill is almost half of what it was in New Zealand, my rent is about the same, and my salary is double what it was back home. New Zealand is a great country if you want what it offers. If I di…

Even if they're paying you half your current salary? :-)

Re: Rocket Launch in New Zealand Brings Quick, Cheap Space Access

#174

Post by unknown_apostle »

toomanybeersies wrote: post #166
unknown_apostle wrote: post #149

Earlier quoted context omitted.

My main worry is that I'll effectively be a guest labourer. If I loose my job in Auckland, I have a grace period and if I fail to find another job within this period (e.g. because we're in the middle of a global recession cleaning out overinvestment in startups) I can ship my kids back home across half the planet...

Permanent residency is fairly easy to get in New Zealand if you work in tech and have a degree, especially if your job offer is outside Auckland or pays over $100k. Have a look at the residency points calculator and see how many you get: https://www.immigration.govt.nz/new-zealand-visas/apply-for-...

Yep but they've toughened it up a bit in recent years (good for NZ to do so, in my humble opinion -- without wanting go into politics, I wish my own native country would do something similar). A few years ago I would have gotten permanent residency immediately. Now apparently it's really necessary, de facto, to have worked there before applying for it.

Re: Rocket Launch in New Zealand Brings Quick, Cheap Space Access

#175

Post by lostlogin »

toomanybeersies wrote: post #169
robocat wrote: post #138

Earlier quoted context omitted.

And there are some simple ways to make sure your earthquake risks are lower than other risks in your life. 1. Don't work in old buildings - especially hipster brick ones. ( Maybe if they have added steel structure that looks ridiculously oversized: see Dux Central, what was Twisted Hop in Christchurch). 2. Avoid living on hills with unstable geology. 3. Avoid living in old apartments that are not up to 100% earthquak…

Unfortunately you've described the majority of Wellington's buildings. Wellington is old timber houses on hills, or poorly built apartments on reclaimed land in the harbour, most of which are not up to earthquake code, and aren't required to be for another decade.

> Wellington is old timber houses on hills

These seem to do ok and have been tested on some decent shakes, unlike some of the new code-compliment buildings. Chimneys are a notable exception.

Re: Rocket Launch in New Zealand Brings Quick, Cheap Space Access

#176

Post by lostlogin »

raffleslodge wrote: post #141
incompatible wrote: post #134

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Although, it should be mentioned that the weather is also terrible. I'll never forget that wind.

Nothing beats Wellington on a good day.

The less there is to celebrate the more we celebrate it! Wellington is my favourite city, but I like a good fire so may be biased.

Re: Rocket Launch in New Zealand Brings Quick, Cheap Space Access

#177

Post by lostlogin »

toomanybeersies wrote: post #168
incompatible wrote: post #122

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I left NZ decades ago due to lack of software opportunities. I'd be tempted to return, but getting a "first job" in NZ would be a problem if I returned, I think, given that I'm aged over 50 and haven't worked for years. P.S. Avoid Wellington if possible, it's an earthquake mega-disaster waiting to happen.

One of the reasons I moved from Wellington to Melbourne was the earthquake risk. After the Kaikoura earthquake in 2016, I realised how vulnerable Wellington is if there's a similar sized, magnitude 7-8 earthquake centred on Wellington (which there is a significant risk of). There's only one highway into Wellington, and if that gets cut off after an earthquake (which is very likely, it was down to one lane after the 2…

> it's still very vulnerable to earthquake damage.

And tsunamis.

Re: Rocket Launch in New Zealand Brings Quick, Cheap Space Access

#178

Post by lostlogin »

nathan_f77 wrote: post #157
unknown_apostle wrote: post #147

Earlier quoted context omitted.

But also 30% tax rate, totally open for business, common law, beautiful nature, forced by their difficult geographic location "to try harder" and be more open. I would also say that being a small country puts a limit to having big political ambitions. Many safe, wealthy, stable countries are small and sovereign (or were at least originally based on "small-minded" localist politics). I can see NZ become some kind of P…

I also grew up in New Zealand, and it's not for me. It's great if you want to start a family and have a very quiet life. I think I might retire there if I can somehow afford a house. One of the main reasons I left is that I could never afford a house, or even the down-payment on a mortgage. If I had lots of money then New Zealand would probably be more appealing to me, but it's not a good place to earn it. I don't kn…

Good points.

> many cafes even close at 3pm

That’s far too close to a black mark against NZ coffee though. The weak, lukewarm, milky liquid that is served up elsewhere is deeply depressing. The stuff I want is best not consumed late in the day.

Re: Rocket Launch in New Zealand Brings Quick, Cheap Space Access

#179

Post by peterashford »

nathan_f77 wrote: post #157
unknown_apostle wrote: post #147

Earlier quoted context omitted.

But also 30% tax rate, totally open for business, common law, beautiful nature, forced by their difficult geographic location "to try harder" and be more open. I would also say that being a small country puts a limit to having big political ambitions. Many safe, wealthy, stable countries are small and sovereign (or were at least originally based on "small-minded" localist politics). I can see NZ become some kind of P…

I also grew up in New Zealand, and it's not for me. It's great if you want to start a family and have a very quiet life. I think I might retire there if I can somehow afford a house. One of the main reasons I left is that I could never afford a house, or even the down-payment on a mortgage. If I had lots of money then New Zealand would probably be more appealing to me, but it's not a good place to earn it. I don't kn…

I don't know what century you lived in NZ, but none of what you mentioned about shops closing is true. Sounds like when I was a kid in the 70's.

Re: Rocket Launch in New Zealand Brings Quick, Cheap Space Access

#180

Post by toomanybeersies »

lostlogin wrote: post #175
toomanybeersies wrote: post #169

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Unfortunately you've described the majority of Wellington's buildings. Wellington is old timber houses on hills, or poorly built apartments on reclaimed land in the harbour, most of which are not up to earthquake code, and aren't required to be for another decade.

> Wellington is old timber houses on hills These seem to do ok and have been tested on some decent shakes, unlike some of the new code-compliment buildings. Chimneys are a notable exception.

The risk with the housing stock on Wellington's hills isn't that they'll fall over, timber houses on piles are quite safe in earthquakes as they are very flexible. The main risk is landslides.
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