Satellites are making the night sky brighter — as a launch site, New Zealand has a duty to combat light pollution

A black and white rocket launches from a pad at night.

This article was originally published in The Conversation. The publication contributed the article to Space.com's Expert Voices: Op-Ed & Insights.

New Zealand's space sector has been developing rapidly since the first rocket lifted off in 2017. It now contributes about NZ$1.7 billion in revenue, with plans to grow to $10 billion by 2030.