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\nH\u0113ki, a powerful superconductor electric rocket, was assembled in Seaview, Lower Hutt.
\nPhoto: Reece Baker \/ RNZ\n<\/p>\n
It could be several days before the New Zealand experiment that was launched into space earlier this week reaches the International Space Station.<\/p>\n
The small tech platform – H\u0113ki – is designed to test propulsion using superconducting electromagnets. It launched from Cape Canaveral on Monday, watched by its New Zealand creators.<\/p>\n
Chief scientist and engineer Randy Pollock said the cargo ship that H\u0113ki was on was now “parked” at a lower orbit.<\/p>\n
Engineers were attempting to fire the thruster, but it might be several days until that lined up with a chance to dock with the station, he said.<\/p>\n
“While not common, these sorts of issues during spacecraft checkout are not rare either,” said Pollock.<\/p>\n
“Most of the time they can be addressed and the mission can continue with a slight delay.”<\/p>\n
H\u0113ki has been in the works for five years, including nine months waiting in a queue to get on to a launch.<\/p>\n
“Due to the rules of orbital mechanics, it might be several days before the Cygnus [cargo ship] and ISS are in the correct relative positions for the next rendezvous attempt.”<\/p>\n
It is the first NZ-made experiment bound for testing on the outside of the space station. The first one to be tested inside it went up last year.<\/p>\n