The New Zealand Space Agency (NZSA) and LeoLabs jointly launched the world’s first Space Regulatory and Sustainability Platform for Low Earth Orbit (LEO). This cloud-based platform leverages LeoLabs’ global radar network to provide real-time tracking, compliance monitoring, and historical data on satellite orbits. It enables the NZSA to enforce regulatory standards, detect deviations from approved orbital paths, and promote responsible behaviour in space. The initiative supports New Zealand’s commitment to a sustainable space environment and builds on a broader partnership with LeoLabs to advance space-related R&D and infrastructure.

Prerequisites:

• Institutional & political interest and support for utilising SSA, STM, and Space Weather data, technologies, and applications

• Understand national 

policies and identify national policies that utilise SSA, STM, and Space Weather data, technologies, and applications

• Identify and build relationships with stakeholders involved in policy implementation

• Access to SSA, STM, and Space Weather data, data processing and analysis capabilities

Cost:

• Ballpark: USD 50k–250k

• Includes: literature review and baseline study, stakeholder consultations, expert advisory, report drafting and validation, legal review, parliamentary passage/decress if needed

Timeframe:

• Overall: 12–24 mo

• Phase: scoping & consultations (3–6 mo), draft policy/legal review (4–8 mo), approval & adoption (5–10 mo)

Pros:

• Policy Coherence - Aligning with national policies will make it easier to secure funding and realize projects.

Considerations:

• Timeline - The process of supporting and actually implementing national policies takes time. • • • • Articulation - Coordinating efforts across various stakeholders such as governmental departments can be complex.