Dawn Aerospace shares its recent milestone for its proprietary rocket-powered spaceplane, the Mk II Aurora, which recently conducted its first flight with the powerful engines. This is the first official flight of the Mk-II Aurora utilizing the full capabilities of the rocket it developed to propel the spacecraft to great heights, and soon looking to reach space.
The company wants to conduct further test flights in the future, eyeing for certification from the government to have endless pursuits toward its goal of space transportation.
Dawn Aerospace: Mk-II Aurora's First Rocket-Powered Flight
(Photo : Dawn Aerospace)
The New Zealand-based company, Dawn Aerospace, has recently achieved a significant step toward its venture of utilizing a rocket-powered spaceplane for future space transportation needs.
For the first time since its previous tests, the Mk-II Aurora utilized the powerful rockets to help it soar to the horizon, testing it out at the Glentanner Aerodrome last the end of March.
Mk-II Aurora's recent test flight only shows that the company's development of the spaceplane is ready for greater heights and more daring missions, towards the cosmic heavens.
"These flights were a monumental achievement for Dawn Aerospace, and the result of years of hard work from the team. After conducting three tests in three days, we believe Mk-II is the most rapidly reusable rocket-powered aircraft in operation," Dawn Aerospace CEO, Stefan Powell said.
The spaceplane reached an altitude of 1,800 meters, achieving a maximum speed of 195.7 miles per hour (315 kph).
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Rocket-Powered Spaceplane Wants its Certification to Expand Testing
The next step in Dawn Aerospace's goal is to receive its certification to expand the Mk-II Aurora's testing, and soon its first journey to space.
Dawn's Mk-II Aurora boasts of a rapidly-reusable spacecraft that can fly multiple times in a day, as well as a horizontal take-off and landing that does not need a dedicated launch pad, but a runway to soar to the skies.
Spaceplanes and the Cosmic Industry
There are many companies in the growing space industry in the world, and it is seeing a significant development towards achieving commercial transportation to the cosmic heavens soon, for all to experience. And while some companies are developing rockets with their traditional vertical look, others are developing spaceplanes that look like regular aircraft.
One of the most famous companies behind this development is Virgin Galactic from Sir Richard Branson, and the company has been successful in its previous test flights, as well as in bringing people to orbit. The company's goal is to expand more of the commercial space experience to many, with the experience still looking familiar as regular flights.
Dawn Aerospace is on the verge of transitioning from a company that is developing its technology, to one that already provides services and transportation to the world.
With its recent success in testing the rocket-powered spaceplane, Mk-II Aurora, it is only a matter of time before it would bring space launches to the public, backed by a certification from its country's agencies.
Related Article: Dawn Aerospace Mk-II Aurora: Suborbital Spaceplane Made 5 Flights to Assess its Capabilities, Soon for Space Use?
