An aircraft with the performance of a rocket, rather than a rocket with wings: This is the concept that Dawn Aerospace has been pursuing for more than five years. The company, which is based in the Netherlands and New Zealand, is focused on developing an orbital vehicle optimized for launching payloads, such as small satellites, and conducting Earth observation missions.
The project is equally ambitious and challenging, but it appears to be on track for continued success. Dawn Aerospace has completed more than 50 segmented flights in different series with its Mk-II Aurora demonstrator. The last three were carried out in July and, according to the company, were a real success.
An “Aircraft” Ready to Break More Than One Record
The Mk-II Aurora vehicle reached a maximum speed of Mach 0.92 and an altitude of 50,000 feet in the July tests. The image above shows the aircraft at its maximum altitude after takeoff from the Glentanner Aerodrom in New Zealand. Now, Dawn Aerospace is ready to take its project to the next level.
The next series of flights, scheduled to begin in September 2024, should enable the Mk-II Aurora to reach supersonic speeds. This will test both the rocket’s performance and the aircraft’s aerodynamic design to lay the groundwork for a series of rather spectacular milestones.
Dawn Aerospace is confident that its demonstrator will be able to ascend faster than an F15, reach a higher altitude than a MiG-25, fly faster than an SR-71 (the world’s fastest aircraft), and, lastly, be the first vehicle to pass the Kármán line, the 62-mile altitude benchmark used to determine when space begins.
Dawn Aerospace claims that once it achieves its goals, it’ll break some “records [that] have stood for over 50 years.” Beyond this, the company’s main mission is to pave the way for the manufacture of a full-size, two-stage aircraft called Mk-III to provide orbital access services.
If the company can deliver services at a competitive price, it probably won’t have too much trouble winning customers over. Currently, it seems that everyone wants to launch satellites, from educational institutions to government agencies. In this context, Dawn Aerospace’s investment plan is noteworthy.
In a blog post, the company states that it’s reached this point by spending $10 million and now expects to complete the project with a total of less than $20 million. This is a modest investment compared to the money needed to develop a conventional aircraft or rocket. Only time will tell if Dawn Aerospace will succeed.
This article was written by Javier Marquez and originally published in Spanish on Xataka.
Image | Dawn Aerospace
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