Contenders in chase for top spot

space, from $160 million each to just $6 million. The venture has attracted investment from Silicon Valley-based Khosla Ventures and aerospace giant Lockheed Martin, as well as Sir Stephen Tindall’s K1W1.

This month Rocket Lab signed Earth imaging satellite company Planet for at least three dedicated launches, adding to a customer list that includes satellite company Spire, Nasa and Moon Express.

The Electron rocket makes extensive use of carbon fibre, new battery technology and 3D printing to cut weight and costs.

Beck grew up in Invercargill, in a family of tinkerers, and built his first bike out of aluminium. He got hooked on astronomy after his father built a telescope.

He’s been awarded a Meritorious Medal from the Royal Aeronautical Society for service of an exceptional nature in New Zealand aviation, and the Cooper Medal, presented by the Royal Society to those deemed to have published the best single account of research in physics and engineering.

When he was named Innovator of the Year at last year’s New Zealander of the Year Awards, Beck said Kiwis with global ambitions didn’t generally aim to build billion-dollar companies, but they should “go big or go home”.