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Reposted by Priyanka Dhopade

Dr Cassandra Steer @cassandrasteer.bsky.social · Aug 30

To replace the self-fulfilling prophecy that space is “congested, contested and competitive”, we need a new mantra, one that offers solutions: “Communication, cooperation and collaboration”. Check out my Substack this week and say the mantra with me. open.substack.com/pub/spacecit...

Communication, Cooperation and Collaboration in Space

Why these words matter

open.substack.com

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Priyanka Dhopade @drpriaero.bsky.social · Aug 28

Oh that would be amazing! 🚀👩🏼‍🚀🌱

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Priyanka Dhopade @drpriaero.bsky.social · Aug 28

Reading this with my 7-month-old 🚀
Told him the astronaut growing plants in space was @sakessans.bsky.social 👩🏼‍🚀

Book cover of How a Rocket Works in association with the UK Space Agency

Other astronauts living in space: one fixing a leak on the international space station and another growing plants in space

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Shaun Hendy @hendysh.bsky.social · Aug 5

Hey folks - if you missed it at the Writer's Festival #TheCovidResponse is heading back to Auckland. Join Toby Manhire, @siouxsiew.bsky.social and me to hear about the book and what the future holds at Auckland Uni on August 25 from 6pm (doors open at 5.30) www.bwb.co.nz/events/the-c...

'The Covid Response' by Shaun Hendy - BWB Talks, Auckland! - BWB Bridget Williams Books

Bridget Williams Books invites you to a BWB Talk in Auckland with Shaun Hendy in conversation with Siouxsie Wiles and Toby Manhire, discussing hi...

www.bwb.co.nz

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Priyanka Dhopade @drpriaero.bsky.social · Jul 20

Happy International Moon Day! 🌕👩🏼‍🚀

📸 taken with my 🔭

Photo of the moon against a blue background with labels for "Sea of Tranquility" and "Approx location of Apollo 11 landing site"

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Priyanka Dhopade @drpriaero.bsky.social · Jul 19

Spaceportopia now officially has a Wikipedia page! en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Spacepo...

P.s. If you haven't read "Astrotopia" by Mary-Jane Rubenstein, I highly recommend it.

Reposted by Priyanka Dhopade

Sustainable Space Initiative @ssinz.bsky.social · Jul 10

Their comments arise from our latest findings on Aotearoa NZ's aerospace sector and sustainability with @sarahhbickerton.bsky.social & team: www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10....

Sustainability within Aotearoa New Zealand’s aerospace sector: current state and implications for the future

Aotearoa New Zealand's rapidly growing aerospace sector is still in its infancy, which presents us with the unique opportunity to incorporate sustainability as a key performance parameter from the ...

www.tandfonline.com

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Sustainable Space Initiative @ssinz.bsky.social · Jul 10

Our members @drpriaero.bsky.social and @catherineq.bsky.social quoted in @thespinoff.bsky.social on NZ's MethaneSat involvement:

thespinoff.co.nz/the-bulletin...

What went wrong with MethaneSat – and who should answer for it?

New Zealand’s first publicly funded space mission has ended with a lost satellite and a debate about how we spend our money in space.<br />

thespinoff.co.nz

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Sustainable Space Initiative @ssinz.bsky.social · Jul 2

Read the latest paper on successful launch site planning co-authored by our lead @drpriaero.bsky.social

🗞 csps.aerospace.org/papers/space...

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Priyanka Dhopade @drpriaero.bsky.social · Jul 2

8/
🔗 Read the full paper here: csps.aerospace.org/papers/space...
📍Published by the Center for Space Policy & Strategy @ Aerospace Corporation

With support from:
Sustainable Space Initiative @ University of Auckland

#spaceports #spacesustainability #spacestrategy #AotearoaInSpace

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Priyanka Dhopade @drpriaero.bsky.social · Jul 2

7/
✅ Looking offshore?
Floating launch/landing platforms could relieve land-use pressures — but they come with serious engineering & cost challenges.

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Priyanka Dhopade @drpriaero.bsky.social · Jul 2

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✅ Spaceports don’t succeed in isolation.
They need ecosystems:
⚙️ Supporting infrastructure
👩‍🔬 Talent pipelines
📜 Regulation
🤝 Public-private partnerships
(NZ is doing some things right here!)

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Priyanka Dhopade @drpriaero.bsky.social · Jul 2

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✅ Trust is key.
Opaque processes & poor consultation — especially with Indigenous communities — can derail projects before they launch.

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Priyanka Dhopade @drpriaero.bsky.social · Jul 2

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✅ Not all spaceports deliver promised benefits.
Our US & NZ case studies show failed projections, financial shortfalls & community opposition where stakeholder engagement was weak.

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Priyanka Dhopade @drpriaero.bsky.social · Jul 2

3/
✅ Forecasting launch demand is tricky.
Satellite filings often overestimate demand — only a fraction of proposed satellites actually make it to orbit.

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Priyanka Dhopade @drpriaero.bsky.social · Jul 2

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✅ Spaceport ambitions must be grounded in practical realities.
Launch sites should balance space aspirations with regional economic, environmental & social needs.

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Priyanka Dhopade @drpriaero.bsky.social · Jul 2

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Successful spaceports need to work not just for rockets — but for people and places, too.
🚀🌏
Excited to share our latest paper on spaceport site selection, co-authored with the brilliant Karen L. Jones & Dr. Lindsay DeMarchi @ Aerospace Corporation + expert contributors from across the sector.
🧵👇

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Michele Bannister @astrokiwi.bsky.social · Jun 10

New paper day! In 'Near-future rocket launches could slow ozone recovery', we show that scaling up use of launch vehicles 🚀 has a point where the healing of the ozone layer is affected 🧪🛰️
Open access, free to read & share

Near-future rocket launches could slow ozone recovery

npj Climate and Atmospheric Science - Near-future rocket launches could slow ozone recovery

rdcu.be

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Reposted by Priyanka Dhopade

Eva Corlett @evacorlett.bsky.social · Jun 10

Exclusive: New Zealand government sued over ‘dangerously inadequate’ emissions reduction plan
www.theguardian.com/world/2025/j...

New Zealand government sued over ‘dangerously inadequate’ emissions reduction plan

Exclusive: In the first legal challenge to the plan, top climate lawyers claim the government relies too heavily on forestry and failed to consult the public

www.theguardian.com

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Priyanka Dhopade @drpriaero.bsky.social · May 17

This was such an interesting project to supervise and I got to work with the best student 😊 Can't wait to see this work published soon. 🛰🚀🌏

Sustainable Space Initiative @ssinz.bsky.social · May 16

Huge congrats to Ronda Geise on completing her Master’s in Mechanical Engineering @UniAuckland! Her futures-focused research analysed global space strategies for sustainability. Now being submitted to Earth System Governance Journal—well done, Ronda! 🚀🌍 #SpaceSustainability #STEM

Woman smiling on stage in graduation regalia

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Sustainable Space Initiative @ssinz.bsky.social · Mar 20

Why should NZ care about space sustainability? Our research lead @drpriaero.bsky.social introduces our work in this research impact video commissioned by Uni of Auckland.

youtu.be/gnI8x2UUR1Q?...

Impact stories | Creating research impact with Dr Priyanka Dhopa

YouTube video by University of Auckland - Website video repository

youtu.be

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Priyanka Dhopade @drpriaero.bsky.social · Feb 27

Thank you 😘 Sleep is scarce but we're working on it.

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Priyanka Dhopade @drpriaero.bsky.social · Feb 27

The start of a new adventure! With our newest crew member of Spaceship Earth, William, who landed on 28th January 2025 🥳

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Veronika Meduna @veronikameduna.bsky.social · Feb 6

From Ngāi Tahu Kaiwhakahaere Justin Tipa's powerful Waitangi speech: 'When there’s an absence of true leadership, voices that represent comparatively simpler and shallower viewpoints, begin to shine through.'
ngaitahu.iwi.nz/connect-2/co...

Ngāi Tahu Kaiwhakahaere Justin Tipa Hui Whakaū I Te Tiriti ki Ōnuku Waitangi Day 2025 Commemoration Speech

ngaitahu.iwi.nz

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Kate Genevieve @kategenevieve.bsky.social · Jan 26

Powerful oral submissions opposing the Treaty Principles Bill this morning - listen live: www.rnz.co.nz/news/politic...

(Don’t want to share the photo of Seymour feat. on the RNZ link... so here's a 2017 kōrero w. Moana Jackson on constitutional transformation www.converge.org.nz/pma/mjdec201...)

www.converge.org.nz

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