Dawn Aerospace's Rocket-Powered Spaceplane: Mk-II Aurora is a Game Changer for Space Industry
A rocket-powered space plane that aims to become the first aircraft to fly to space twice a day is the Mk-II Aurora.
The New Zealand-based company behind the spaceplane, Dawn Aerospace, successfully completed three test flights last week, achieving all test objectives.
Flying the Mak-ll Aurora to a height of 6, 000 feet at speeds of 196 mph was carried out in the latest series of tests.
A major milestone for the company, the rocket-powered engine rules out previously used jet engines for its test flights.
The goal of Dawn Aerospace is to build a fully reusable craft that can quickly and sustainably send satellites into space.
The Mk-ll Aurora is envisioned by the company as the world’s first fully reusable satellite launcher.
A small payload of 2.2 pounds can be carried by the new spaceplane, designed to take off and land on a runway.
The Civil Aviation Authority of New Zealand has approved the Mk-ll Aurora to fly out of conventional airports alongside civil aircraft.
The Civil Aviation Authority of New Zealand has approved the Mk-ll Aurora to fly out of conventional airports alongside civil aircraft.
The horizontal takeoff and landing capabilities of the spacecraft eliminate the need for dedicated runways or special restrictions.
The focus of Dawn Space is on reusable rockets, making space more accessible by lowering launch costs and increasing launch frequency.
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