Kiwi space pioneer Peter Beck has helped King Charles III launch the 鈥淎stra Carta鈥 - a听听aimed at private space operators.
An Astra Carta logo or 鈥渟eal鈥, designed by legendary Apple designer Sir Jony Ive, was also unveiled at today鈥檚 Buckingham Palace event.
The event also featured Sir Brian May, the Queen guitarist who gained a PhD in astrophysics from Imperial College, London in 2007 - finishing work he started in 1971.
Rocket Lab has pursued a number of sustainability strategies, including a satellite-deploying 鈥渒ick stage鈥 that can reorientate itself to burn up on re-entry - eliminating space junk - and, more recently, a first-stage booster that can be reused after being retrieved from the ocean.
King Charles unveils the Astra Carta seal, created by former Apple designer Sir Jony Ive.
Rocket Lab鈥檚 larger Neutron rocket, set for its first launch late next year, is designed to be fully reusable.
Beck is also in sympatico with the monarch鈥檚 passion for science, with Rocket Lab planning a privately funded mission to Venus next year in search of phosphine, a simple molecule associated with living organisms.
Queen guitarist turned astrophysicist Sir Brian May meets King Charles at the Buckingham Palace launch.
Ahead of the unveiling of the Astra Carta seal, Colonel Chris Hadfield, former astronaut and Commander of the International Space Station, addressed the room. Other guests included Major Timothy Peake, the second Brit into space - after scientist Helen Sharman.
听
Take your Radio, Podcasts and Music with you
Get the iHeart App
Get more of the radio, music and podcasts you love with the FREE iHeartRadio app. Scan the QR code to download now.
Download from the app stores
Stream unlimited music, thousands of radio stations and podcasts all in one app. iHeartRadio is easy to use and all FREE