Magnets in space

I first met Professor Rod Badcock at the Aerospace Summit earler this year, and was not surprised when he won the Researcher Entrepreneur of the Year at the KiwiNet Awards. In a recent tour of Paihau Robinson Research Institute, every introduction to the research scientists we met was prefaced with "This is (name), and they are going to leave me." Rod takes pride in his entrepreneurial culture and is effectively developing the next generation of startup founders, including Ratu Mataira from OpenStar Technologies which raised $10m in a Seed round led by Outset Ventures a few months ago.

Rod is globally recognised as a pioneer in the field of applied superconductivity, with a broad range of applications including generators, motors, power transformers, medical imaging systems, electric space propulsion and high field magnets. He is leading Aotearoa, NZ’s contribution to an international effort to decarbonise transport and electrify aviation. Domestically, Air New Zealand is on a mission to replace its aging Q300 fleet by 2030 and Rod's team play a key role in technical development alongside industry's top global players including Airbus, ATR, Universal Hydrogen, Embraer, and Heart Aerospace. The team have a range of strategic partnerships with CleanTech innovators including Fabrum, which recently closed a $23m Series A.

(We also got a demo of the power of a liquid nitrogen cooled levitating superconductor train, see images below).

Next cab off the ranks from the Institute is likely to be plasma rockets in space, with an interesting Radio NZ interview here with Dr Ben Mallett and Bettina Pavri. Two key projects for the team are Kōkako, for testing the performance of the thruster and superconducting magnet combo in a chamber that simulates the vacuum of space; and Hēki (egg), a container which contains a magnet, cryocooler, fluxx pump, computer and electronics. Hēki will be heading to the International Space Station in early 2025 with the first milestone for operating the superconducting magnet in space and proving the thrust pump technology. Researchers at the University of Auckland and University of Canterbury are also supporting this initiative.

Watch this space.