Rocket launches such as SpaceX could help to create jobs for Bermudians, the home affairs minister said.

Walter Roban said that while technicians travel to Bermuda from overseas to assist with launches, Bermudians could be trained to fill some of those roles.

Mr Roban said: “We are embarking on a programme of training Bermudian technicians to be able to assist with launch monitoring and observation in the future.

“By having local technicians at the ready, Bermuda can offer a broader range of services going forward.”

The SpaceX Rocket successfully launched from the Kennedy Space Centre in Florida with two Nasa astronauts on board.

The launch — the first Nasa launch to use a private company to transport Nasa astronauts — was monitored from a tracking station based at Cooper’s Island in St David’s. The astronauts arrived safely at the International Space Station on Sunday.

Mr Roban said: “Bermuda is used by other countries for earth station locations — these are essentially observation and monitoring points for rocket launches.

“As a result, Bermuda’s position is critical for some launches, like those that are responsible for sending supplies for restocking the International Space Station.”

He added that the SpaceX launch was a high-profile example of Bermuda’s role in the space industry and helped to build the island’s credibility as a leading jurisdiction.