Dawn’s Mk-II Aurora spaceplane has successfully completed its first rocket-powered light test at Glentanner Aerodrome in New Zealand. This spaceplane is capable of flying multiple times a day and designed to take off as well as land horizontally on a runway, which means it does not require a dedicated launch pad.
Future tests will gradually increase speed and altitude in a ‘build-up’ approach, but commercial operations will see the Mk-II Aurora fly to 100 km (62 mi) altitude and aims to become the first vehicle capable of such flights twice in a day. Once the Mk-II Aurora program is complete, Dawn Aerospace hopes to develop the Mk-III, a two-stage orbital vehicle capable of carrying over 1 ton on a suborbital flight or delivering a 250 kg satellite to Low Earth Orbit (LEO) with an expendable second stage.
- LEGO NASA Space Set - This adult LEGO set features the Space Shuttle Discovery and the Hubble Space Telescope from NASA’s 1990 STS-31 mission,...
- Solar System Exploration - Unlock the mysteries of our solar system with this engaging 2,354-piece project, packed with authentic details and...
- Shuttle Features Galore - The space shuttle model has an opening payload bay, retractable landing gear, opening cockpit, moving elevons, space arm,...
These flights were a monumental achievement for Dawn Aerospace, and the result of years of hard work from the team. After conducting three tests in three days, we believe Mk-II is the most rapidly reusable rocket-powered aircraft in operation,” said Stefan Powell, Dawn CEO.
