Mission Operations Control Centre
New Zealand is supporting the MethaneSAT Mission by building and operating a Mission Operations Control Centre.
On this page
Overview
In 2019, MBIE signed a Joint Declaration of Intent with the Environmental Defense Fund and its subsidiary MethaneSAT LLC (MLLC) to pursue the MethaneSAT Mission. In addition to a Catalyst-funded science programme focused on agricultural methane, New Zealand’s key role in this mission is to build and operate the MethaneSAT Mission Operations Control Centre (MOCC). To support this, MBIE contracted Rocket Lab to build and initially operate the MOCC for up to one year after the satellite was launched.
March 2025 Update
MethaneSAT partners have successfully completed the temporary transfer of the MethaneSAT mission operations control centre to Blue Canyon Technologies (BCT) in Colorado, USA.
BCT built the satellite, and the temporary transfer will enable them to address challenges which are affecting its operation. Operational challenges are not unusual with space missions, in this case the BCT team is best placed to manage them.
BCT took over the responsibility for operating the satellite on Wednesday 5 March 2025, New Zealand Time.
As overall mission owners, MethaneSAT LLC is committed to ensuring the mission operations control centre is transferred to the University of Auckland’s Te Pūnaha Ātea Space Institute as always planned. It is anticipated that University staff will be on console no later than the end of June 2025.
The contracts with Rocket Lab and the University of Auckland have been funded through the Strategic Science Investment Fund (SSIF) Infrastructure.
Rocket Lab (short-term MOCC)
MBIE funding details
Rocket Lab was contracted by MBIE for $11,768,049 (GST exclusive) to support the establishment of a MOCC in New Zealand.
MBIE determined that Rocket Lab was the only New Zealand based organisation with the capability and expertise to establish and operate a MOCC in the timeframes required to meet New Zealand's commitments to the programme.
About our investment
Under the SSIF contract, Rocket Lab was responsible for working with the MethaneSAT mission team in developing the MOCC. Rocket Lab was responsible for demonstrating safe and compliant operations for the successful transition of operations to New Zealand post commissioning.
Rocket Lab's key responsibilities included:
- Planning and coordinating the MOCC development and infrastructure requirements, including IT and physical security.
- Providing operations training documentation and training of designated host responsible personnel.
- Transitioning the operation of the MOCC from Rocket Lab to the University of Auckland, including the development and validation of the plans, procedures and operator skills to safely and efficiently conduct the MethaneSAT mission operations for a minimum of launch + 1 year.
The University of Auckland (long-term MOCC)
MBIE funding details
Selected through a call for proposals process in 2021, the University of Auckland was awarded Strategic Science Investment Fund (SSIF) Infrastructure funding to host the long-term New Zealand based Mission Operations Control Centre (MOCC). The University of Auckland is contracted by MBIE to host the New Zealand based MOCC over seven years to May 2028. To support this objective, the University of Auckland has received $4,258,864 (excluding GST) to date.
This funding has enabled the University of Auckland to:
- construct the physical MOCC at the University’s Te Pūnaha Ātea – Space Institute
- recruit MOCC personnel (to ensure they have the required capability to support mission operations)
- engage with mission development activities and initiate institutional planning for training and facility management
- develop course offerings in a range of complementary capabilities (eg space/aerospace engineering, remote sensing and climate science)
- undertake outreach and networking to identify potential future space collaboration opportunities.
About our investment
The MOCC is a significant investment in infrastructure that will build New Zealand’s capability to operate complex satellite missions.
The MOCC will provide a set of functional capabilities for the command, control and support of the MethaneSAT satellite and future satellite missions for New Zealand.
In addition, the centre will be an enduring piece of national infrastructure available to all New Zealand research organisations to support future missions and enable the enhancement of New Zealand’s space sector capability.
Below is the public statement from our contract with the University of Auckland.
Read the public statement
More information
Auckland Space Institute (University of Auckland)(external link)