Latest news with #rocketpropulsion

National Post

Dawn Aerospace Begins Taking Orders for Aurora Spaceplane: A Breakthrough Rocket-Powered Aircraft

Article content Article content ŌTAUTAHI CHRISTCHURCH, New Zealand — Dawn Aerospace today announced that its Aurora spaceplane is now available for purchase, with first deliveries expected in 2027. This marks a historic milestone: the first time a space-capable vehicle – designed to fly beyond the Kármán line (100 km – 328,000 ft) – has been offered for direct sale to customers. Article content Aurora is set to become the fastest and highest-flying aircraft ever to take off from a conventional runway, blending the extreme performance of rocket propulsion with the reusability and operational simplicity of traditional aviation. This breakthrough enables high-frequency, low-cost access to both high-altitudes and space. Article content Aurora introduces a business model akin to commercial airlines, where operators can purchase aircraft and deliver services independently of the manufacturer. Dawn's suborbital spaceplane is engineered for high-frequency operations from traditional airports and spaceports worldwide. Capable of horizontal takeoff and landing, rapid refueling, and multiple flights per day, Aurora offers aircraft-like simplicity, cost-efficiency, and flexibility – enabling local operators to access high-altitudes and space from local runways on demand. Article content 'For the first time, customers have the opportunity to own an aircraft capable of reaching the edge of space,' said Stefan Powell, CEO of Dawn Aerospace. 'Aurora is a game-changing platform for governments, spaceports, and new spaceplane operators to access extreme altitudes and deliver vital services and programs. It's been over a century since commercial airlines began—now it's time to launch the first spaceline.' Article content Aurora enables a new class of missions across defense, signals intelligence, surveillance, hypersonics, maritime patrol, and atmospheric research. It provides microgravity access for the semiconductor and life sciences industries, making it a powerful platform for advancing scientific discovery and national security. Article content LIFE SCIENCES: Investigate cellular biology, regenerative medicine, and space health in microgravity conditions. SEMICONDUCTOR TECHNOLOGY: Test next-gen chips and materials under near-space radiation and thermal extremes. DEFENSE APPLICATIONS: Validate communications and sensing payloads in high-altitude environments. Article content In November 2024, on the 57th flight of Aurora, it reached supersonic speeds, Mach 1.12, and climbed to 82,500 feet / 25.1 km. In doing so, Aurora set a record for the fastest climb from runway to above 20km, breaking a nearly 50-year-old record previously held by the modified F-15 Streak Eagle. Article content AURORA SPACEPLANE – KEY SPECIFICATIONS Article content Dawn Aerospace is now coordinating inaugural deliveries of Aurora with early adopters across research, commercial, and government sectors. Article content Dawn Aerospace is developing the fastest and highest-flying aircraft ever to take off from a runway, combining the extreme performance of rocket propulsion with the reusability of conventional airplanes to enable high-frequency, low-cost access to high-altitudes and space. Article content Dawn's remotely piloted aircraft are certified under New Zealand's CAA Part 102 and the New Zealand Space Agency's High-Altitude License, allowing flight from the ground to beyond 60,000 feet—well above conventional airspace limits. Article content Dawn's founders recognized the potential of applying aviation-style operations to spaceflight —delivering routine, runway-based access to space with rocket-powered aircraft. In addition to its spaceplane program, Dawn Aerospace is a leading provider of propulsion systems for satellite developers, with its technology currently on 25 operational satellites. Article content Article content Article content Article content Article content