Pete Datlen at work in Rocket Lab's facility. Photo Ian Teh for Bloomberg Businessweek.The sky is certainly no limit for former Ashburton College student Pete Datlen, who is working in his dream job in the aerospace industry.
Datlen, whose last year at college was 2007, works for Rocket Lab, who last month successfully launched the first orbital-class rocket into space from a private site on the Mahia Peninsula.
The launch was surreal, he says.
“It was, without a word of a lie, the most exciting thing I have ever been a part of. The moment the engines ignited and the nose of the rocket appeared from behind the plume … the room erupted. It was deafening and the whole room was electric.”
Datlen is one of three vehicle assembly technicians with the company, assisting with building vehicles for Rocket Lab.
Ten years earlier in his last year at Ashcoll, Datlen had no idea what he wanted to do with his life. He says he was never a straight A student, but he made a decision to do what he loved and tackled everything at 100 per cent, including school activities as Green House vice-captain. “Although I was terrible at almost everything, I really enjoyed all of it!”
He particularly remembers his form teacher Karen McKenzie, who always had words of encouragement. “I can remember so many great things she used to tell me. ‘Pete, how are you so great?’ ‘Pete, you’re the coolest guy I know’, ‘You’re going to be president one day kid’, among other things!”
When Datlen’s father died in a plane crash during his last year at school, he decided to join the Royal New Zealand Airforce and became an aeronautical technician.
He then trained as a commercial pilot before ending up in the aerospace industry working for Rocket Lab.
It is a dream job, but he typically downplays his ground-breaking work to stay humble.
“As a small town boy born and raised in Ashburton, it’s important to me to not forget where I came from and all the people that have helped me along the way. I owe almost all of who I am to Ashburton and especially to Ashburton College.
“I never considered myself a particularly smart guy and I wouldn’t say I was ever top of my class in anything, but I decided to do what I love. The encouragement from teachers, friends and family are a huge part of the reason I’m doing what I love today, but more importantly, I never told myself I couldn’t. It’s cliché, and I hate myself for saying it, but find something you are passionate about and put everything you have into it
“As the great Joe Dirt once said, ‘you can’t have “no” in your heart’.”
Looking back, he says he is grateful and fortunate.
“I guess what I take from everything is that you don’t have to know what you’re doing or where you’re going, but it’s important to be passionate about something. Work hard no matter how minor your job is. Put everything into making yourself and what you do better, and the opportunities open up.”
He sees exciting times ahead for the aerospace industry and launching the rocket was a huge step for the company, and the country.
“If we keep sending rockets up and fine-tuning them then the opportunities for us are endless for everyone. More satellites mean greater things like worldwide internet in third world countries.”
Datlen, who is now based in Auckland, says he still makes it home to Ashburton to catch up with his mum Ningsih and friends for important occasions.

© The Ashburton Guardian - 1 July 2017