Dawn Aerospace

Dawn Aerospace is an aerospace company founded in 2017 that builds satellite propulsion systems and a reusable suborbital spaceplane. It operates from two sites: Christchurch in New Zealand, where flight testing is carried out, and Delft in the Netherlands, where much of the propulsion work sits. Company material lists both locations as headquarters.

Mk-II Aurora

The Mk-II Aurora is an uncrewed suborbital spaceplane designed for rapid reuse, taking off and landing from a conventional runway rather than a launch pad. Announced in July 2020, it first flew on jet power, completing 48 test flights below 9,000 feet by December 2022. Certification for rocket-powered flight followed in March 2023, and the first three rocket-powered test flights were made between 29 and 31 March 2023. Supersonic flight certification was granted in July 2024, and on 12 November 2024 the vehicle passed Mach 1 for the first time, reaching about Mach 1.1 and a maximum altitude of roughly 82,000 feet.

Current position

In March 2025 Dawn's high-altitude licence was updated to permit payload flights on Aurora, opening the vehicle to commercial use. The company has said the design is a step toward a larger two-stage system.