Kea Aerospace
About
Improving Life On Our Planet Using Insights From The Stratosphere
Kea Aerospace is committed to revolutionising the aerospace industry through the development of solar-powered High-Altitude Pseudo-Satellites (HAPS).
Our mission is to provide high-resolution aerial imagery for environmental monitoring, precision agriculture, disaster management, and maritime domain awareness. We've already embarked on this journey with the introduction of the Kea Atmos Mk1, New Zealand's first solar-powered stratospheric aircraft.
With a strong determination to establish ourselves as a prominent player in stratospheric flight operation and data collection, our vision is to extract valuable insights from the stratosphere, ultimately enhancing the quality of life on our planet.
- Location
- Christchurch
- Website
- Visit website
- Founded
- 2018
- Employees
- 11-50
- Industry
- SpaceTech
- Funding stage
- Series A
The Matchstiq Top 2025
Snapshot of Kea Aerospace
Creating Insights from the Stratosphere
Kea Aerospace is pioneering stratospheric flight technology from Aotearoa New Zealand, with the ambition to become a world leader in high-altitude operations and aerial data collection.
Based in Christchurch, Kea is the only company in the Southern Hemisphere focused on long-endurance, solar-powered stratospheric flight, developing aircraft that can gather rich, high-resolution imagery to support climate science, precision agriculture, disaster response and maritime awareness.
The team is currently developing Kea Atmos, a solar-powered aircraft designed for continuous flight in the stratosphere. With zero emissions and the ability to capture persistent, wide-scale insights from above, Kea is building a new category of earth observation platform that sits between satellites and drones.
Founded in 2018, Kea Aerospace has been instrumental in growing New Zealand’s aerospace ecosystem. The company played a key role in establishing Aerospace New Zealand and supporting Christchurch’s Aerospace Sector Plan, the first city-led space strategy in the country.
Why Kea Aerospace Is a Great Place to Work
Planet-focused Kea is creating technology that supports a healthier, more informed planet. From climate monitoring to emergency response, the team is motivated by the real-world impact of their work.
Deep Tech with Purpose You’ll be joining a team solving tough engineering challenges, from solar flight to autonomous navigation, while building technology that has never been done in the region before.
Pushing Boundaries Together The team brings experience from Rocket Lab, DLR, and other leading organisations, united by a belief in doing meaningful, world-class work from New Zealand.