Speaker Biography

Peter Beck

Peter Beck, CEO, CTO, Founder, Rocket Lab

Peter Beck is the founder and chief executive of Rocket Lab, the orbital launch company opening access to space for small satellites.

Since founding the business in 2006, Peter has grown Rocket Lab to become the global industry leader in small launch vehicles and a billion-dollar company employing hundreds of world-class engineers and technicians. Peter established Rocket Lab’s Electron orbital launch program, which commenced commercial operations in 2018. Electron is the world’s first fully carbon-composite launch vehicle, powered by 3D printed, electric pump-fed rocket engines. He led the company through 4 successful orbital launch campaigns, delivering 25 spacecraft to orbit for a range of government and commercial customers. Under Peter’s guidance, Rocket Lab’s launch model will see thousands of small satellites reach orbit and feed critical data back to Earth, helping us better monitor our planet and manage our impact on it.

Peter also oversaw the development of the world’s first and only private orbital launch range, located on New Zealand’s Māhia Peninsula. He played a crucial role in establishing international treaties and legislation to enable orbital launch capability from New Zealand, securing the country as the 11th in the world to reach orbit from home soil.