Dawn Aerospace "GO" for Supersonic Flight Tests of Spaceplane

Dawn Aerospace has received authorization from New Zealand's Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) for their Mark-II Aurora to begin test flights; permitting it to achieve unlimited speeds and altitudes up to 24,400 meters (80,000 feet). This certification marks a pioneering step for high-altitude beyond-line-of-sight operations of a remotely piloted vehicle in New Zealand.

“This certificate is the first by the CAA for high-altitude beyond-line-of-sight operations of a remotely piloted vehicle,” - Stefan Powell, Chief Executive of Dawn Aerospace

The company has also secured a high-altitude license from the New Zealand Space Agency, enabling operations above 60,000 feet, the limit of controlled airspace.

“The point of both is to set that precedent for going beyond that, up to 100 kilometers,” - Stefan Powell, Chief Executive of Dawn Aerospace

The certification is the culmination of years of close collaboration between Dawn Aerospace and local agencies, including the CAA, NZ Space Agency, Airways, and local airspace users. Together, they have worked to understand how to safely integrate high-performance vehicles with existing airspace users, addressing the necessary vehicle and operational requirements.

“Receiving this certification is a testament to the hard work and dedication of our team, and their ability to operate such a high-performance vehicle to the standards the CAA expects of any aircraft operator,” - Stefan Powell, Chief Executive of Dawn Aerospace

The MK-II Aurora

The Mk-II Aurora is a rocket-powered aircraft designed to be the first vehicle ever to fly to 100 km altitude, the edge of space, twice in a single day. Its rapid reusability and low cost make it ideally suited for a variety of applications, including microgravity research, high-speed flight research, earth observation, and defense and civil uses.

Since the Mk-II Aurora's first flight in July 2021, Dawn has completed 50 flight tests under both jet and rocket power, operating under more restrictive licenses. The Mark-II Aurora is on track to become the first privately developed UAV to fly supersonic while taking off and landing on a runway. Since its last flights in 2023, where it achieved speeds of 200 knots and altitudes of 9,000 feet, the Mk-II vehicle has undergone extensive upgrades and testing. The final pre-flight test, an all-up systems test, included a 60-second firing and restart of its engine to demonstrate go-around capability.

Watch Engine Test: https://youtu.be/-K21yeBfzqo

The Mk-II vehicle is now poised to set records for speed, altitude, and climb rate for a self-powered aircraft.

“At full performance, the Mk-II will fly faster and 2.5 times higher than any prior aircraft that takes off from a runway, including the current record holder, the SR-71 Blackbird. That is the power of bringing rocket performance to an aircraft platform,” - Stefan Powell, Chief Executive of Dawn Aerospace

Test Flight Plans

With these regulatory approvals, Dawn Aerospace is set to embark on an ambitious flight test campaign.

The initial series of four flights is slated to commence as early as this month. These flights aim to progressively increase performance, starting from a top speed of Mach 0.4 and a peak altitude of 20,000 feet, eventually reaching Mach 0.7 and 45,000 feet.

Following this, a second series of four flights will aim to push the boundaries further, targeting speeds from Mach 0.7 to Mach 1.1 and altitudes up to 70,000 feet. A secondary objective during these tests is to demonstrate rapid turnaround capability by conducting two flights in a single day. Dawn Aerospace plans to complete this flight test campaign by September.

The test flights will be conducted from Gentanner Aerodrome, the same location used for previous low-altitude test flights of the Mark-II Aurora in 2023. However, the company is also exploring the possibility of using the Tāwhaki National Aerospace Centre, which offers a coastal location with less air traffic, facilitating smoother operations.

The Mark-II Aurora's ultimate mission is to reach 100 kilometers, providing a platform for microgravity research and other experimental applications.

“A ton of people are lining up to use it,” - Stefan Powell, Chief Executive of Dawn Aerospace

Looking ahead, the Mark-II Aurora serves as a precursor to the larger Mark-III Aurora, which is envisioned as the first stage for an air-launch system capable of deploying an upper stage to place satellites into orbit.

Dawn Aerospace's advancements reflect a growing interest and capability in private spaceflight, pushing the boundaries of technology and setting new precedents in the aerospace industry.