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Space Minister Judith Collins is facing criticism for refusing to comment on the failure of New Zealand’s first taxpayer-funded satellite, MethaneSAT, which lost communication in June after just 15 months in orbit – well short of its intended five-year mission.
Despite initial praise for the $32 million partnership with US-based Environmental Defense Fund, experts say the public was misled about ongoing technical issues, including problematic thrusters and repeated system failures.
Astrophysicist Richard Easther warned officials as early as March that the public was being given a “materially incomplete” picture, while others criticised the lack of transparency and due diligence.
Prime Minister Christopher Luxon blamed the previous Labour government for the investment, although the satellite launched and failed under the current administration.
Calls for a review have been ignored, with Collins deflecting all inquiries to MBIE, which cited “commercial confidentiality” as limiting its ability to inform taxpayers.
This article was originally published by the Daily Telegraph New Zealand.
