Dawn Aerospace is a space transportation company focused on providing sustainable and scalable access to space. They are known for developing green propulsion technology and reusable spaceplanes, including the Mk-II Aurora suborbital spaceplane. Dawn supplies propulsion systems globally and aims to reduce the costs associated with satellite launches, with hardware already flying on missions launched by SpaceX, Soyuz and Vega. The company has operations in New Zealand, the Netherlands, and the United States.
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Dawn Aerospace completed 50 flight tests of the Mk-II Aurora under both jet and rocket power since the vehicle’s first flight in July 2021, operating under more restrictive licenses.
New Zealand’s Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) awarded Dawn Aerospace a certificate permitting the Mk-II Aurora to fly at unlimited speeds, including supersonic, up to 80,0 m altitude.
Dawn Aerospace is a New Zealand company developing the Mark-II Aurora rocket-powered suborbital spaceplane.
The B20 cold gas thruster from Dawn Aerospace requires a DC supply of 12-28 V.
Dawn Aerospace’s propulsion team is preparing improvements for flight tests that will take the Mk-IIA to supersonic speeds and above 20 km altitude in early 2024 to complete the Mk-IIA test campaign.
Dawn Aerospace’s propulsion team worked on improvements in preparation for flight tests planned to take the Mk-II Aurora to supersonic speeds and above 20 km altitude in early 2024 to complete the Mk-IIA test campaign.
Dawn Aerospace completed a full-duration, bi-propellant test of the Mk-IIA rocket engine by firing it for 112 seconds at its test facility in Christchurch, New Zealand.
Dawn Aerospace has delivered a further 200 propulsion units to international customers awaiting launch.
Dawn Aerospace’s subscale technology demonstrator, the Mk-II Aurora, has completed 50 test flights, including 47 flights with surrogate jet engines and three flights under rocket power.
Dawn Aerospace has a further 200 units delivered to international customers that are awaiting launch.
Dawn Aerospace will increase Mk-II Aurora test flight speed and altitude gradually using a build-up approach.
Dawn Aerospace completed the first rocket-powered flight campaign of its Mk-II Aurora spaceplane at Glen Tanner Aerodrome on 29, 30, and 31 March.
Dawn Aerospace flew the Mk-II Aurora on 2023-03-29, 2023-03-30, and 2023-03-31 from Gentanner Aerodrome in New Zealand.
Dawn Aerospace received certification from the New Zealand Civil Aviation Authority on 2023-03-24 to begin rocket-powered flights.
Dawn Aerospace completed its first series of rocket-powered flights in late March 2025.
Dawn Aerospace plans to develop the Mk-III, a two-stage orbital vehicle capable of carrying over 1,000 kg on a suborbital flight or delivering a 250 kg satellite to low Earth orbit with an expendable second stage.
Dawn Aerospace raised $20,000,000 late last year.
Dawn Aerospace completed the first rocket-powered flight campaign of its Mk-II Aurora spaceplane on 2023-03-29, 30, and 31 at Glentanner Aerodrome.
Dawn Aerospace completed 48 test flights using jet engines to validate all non-rocket systems of the Mk-II Aurora.
Dawn Aerospace designed and built the Mk-II Aurora spaceplane beginning in 2018.