Unmanned supersonic aircraft Dawn Mk II Aurora can be ordered
In November 2024, Dawn Mk II Aurora broke the sound barrier for the first time. The unmanned aerial vehicle that can reach space can be ordered.
Dawn Mk II Aurora climbing
(Image: Dawn Aerospace)
A vehicle designed to carry small payloads into space: The New Zealand aerospace start-up Dawn Aerospace is accepting orders for its Aurora space plane. According to the company, the first units are to be delivered in two years.
This is a historic moment, Dawn Aerospace announced: For the first time, an aircraft capable of reaching space is being offered to customers as a commercial product. "For the first time, customers have the opportunity to own an aircraft capable of reaching the edge of space," said company CEO Stefan Powell.
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Dawn Mk II Aurora is an unmanned aircraft that can reach supersonic speeds – Mach 3.5 – according to the manufacturer, and climb to an altitude of 100 kilometers, the Kármán line, which is considered the boundary to space. The aircraft can be loaded with a maximum payload of ten kilograms.
Aurora has a delta wing like the Concorde
With its delta wing, Aurora's shape is reminiscent of the Concorde, but at 4.80 meters long, it is significantly smaller. The aircraft is powered by a rocket engine. It takes off and lands conventionally on a runway.
Aurora is designed to transport payloads into the upper atmosphere and satellites into space. Dawn Aerospace sees applications in science, among others: for example, experiments in zero gravity from the life sciences could be carried out on board. Semiconductors could be tested under near-space radiation and extreme temperatures. Several experiments can also be carried out in one day: About four hours after landing, the aircraft is ready to take off again.
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The start-up Dawn Aerospace presented Dawn Mk II Aurora in mid-2020. In November 2024, the unmanned aircraft broke the sound barrier – for the first time since the Concorde was grounded in 2003 – and reached Mach 1.12, climbing to an altitude of 25 kilometers.
Dawn Aerospace plans to start delivering the Dawn Mk II Aurora in 2027. The company is not giving any details about the price.
(wpl)
