Mk-II Aurora Rocketplane Gets Its License to Speed

The Mk-II Aurora, Dawn Aerospace's supersonic rocketplane, got a license for unlimited speed by the New Zealand Civil Aviation Authority, allowing it to go as fast as it pleases up to 80,000 feet.

The Mk-II Aurora first flew in July 2021, and has since flown at increasing speeds and altitudes as the team pushes its limits. The UAV was designed to be able to head to the very edge of the atmosphere at least twice per day, allowing it to turn 'n burn with rapid refueling and robust construction. That would help defray the costs of such a specialized unit, allowing clients to explore scientific themes and research without the same level of investment that satellites and space stations would require.

The Aurora can fly 100 kilometers up, provide a suitable environment to play with microgravity, high-speed research, and near-space tech. Of course, the Aurora's natural abilities will have plenty of applications in the defense sphere too, a fact that isn't at all lost on Dawn Aerospace.

“This unlocks the next major performance milestone for the Mk-II vehicle, namely supersonic flight,” said CEO Stefan Powell in announcing the CAA approval. “To the best of our knowledge, this would be the first privately funded UAV to break the sound barrier.”

The new certification took years of collaboration between Dawn Aerospace and their local regulators, including the New Zealand Civil Aviation Authority, Space Agency, Airways, and airspace overseers. Overall, the bunch came up with a suitable way to operate the Aurora without impacting other civil air operations.

“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,” said Powell. "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."

FMI: www.dawnaerospace.com