CHRISTCHURCH, New Zealand -Dawn Aerospace announced May 22 that it has started taking orders for an uncrewed spaceplane capable of taking small payloads on suborbital flights, Jeff Foust writes for SpaceNews. Continue reading original article.
The Military & Aerospace Electronics take:
30 May 2025 - Designed for high-frequency operations, Aurora takes off and lands horizontally from standard airports or spaceports and can fly multiple times a day thanks to rapid refueling and quick turnaround.
Capable of reaching altitudes up to 100 km, Aurora supports missions in defense, surveillance, hypersonics, maritime patrol, and atmospheric research. It also provides microgravity conditions for life sciences and semiconductor testing. The vehicle’s flexibility and cost-efficiency make it ideal for local operators seeking space access without heavy infrastructure.
Key specs include a top speed of Mach 3.5, a payload capacity of 10 kg, and microgravity exposure for up to three minutes. Its bi-propellant rocket engine and sub-four-hour turnaround enable rapid, repeated missions, it says, will allow greater space accessibility and commercial "spaceline" operations.
Related: Dawn Aerospace achieves supersonic milestone with rocket-powered aircraft
Related: Dawn Aerospace spaceplane prototype hits transonic speeds
Jamie Whitney, Senior Editor
Military + Aerospace Electronics
