Peter Beck honoured

That was the advice from Rocket Lab founder Peter Beck in September, following his appointment by the Faculty of Engineering as an adjunct professor in aerospace engineering. The appointment is recognition of his outstanding contributions to aerospace, entrepreneurship and technical innovation.

Described by Dean of Engineering Professor Nic Smith as a “unique talent” with “an ability to do the extraordinary”, Peter has an association with the University that dates back to the early part of his career working for Industrial Research Limited and then more recently working on structures for Rocket Lab. Having left school at 17 to take up an apprenticeship rather than study, Peter says it was “truly a great honour” to become an adjunct professor.

“The University is always a go-to place if we have particular questions,” he says. The next challenge is to recover the company’s Stage One Electron rockets for reuse through a narrow re-entry corridor. “We’ll enjoy working with the University on this problem.” Peter says space has never been more accessible and he encourages everyone to “take the currency that New Zealand has with launch” and leverage those opportunities into some of the big international programmes.

“Crazy ideas are really only crazy ideas until you pull them off.”