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Supersonic, Rocket-Powered Aircraft Gets All Clear to Break Sound Barrier

New Zealand manufacturer Dawn Aerospace is developing ‘an aircraft with the performance of a rocket’ for suborbital space transportation.

Jack Daleo

Wednesday, July 17, 2024 at 04:06 PM ET

Verified

Edited By: tccjeremy

Dawn Aerospace’s Mk-II Aurora fires its engine during an all-up systems test in July. [Courtesy: Dawn Aerospace]

Key Takeaways:

Dawn Aerospace's Mk-II Aurora, a supersonic, rocket-powered, remotely operated aircraft, has received approval from New Zealand's CAA for "unlimited" speed flights up to 80,000 feet and beyond visual line of sight.
The Mk-II is designed for suborbital space transportation, aiming to be the first privately funded uncrewed aerial vehicle to break the sound barrier and reach the Kármán line (edge of space) multiple times daily.
Key features include rapid reusability, carbon-neutral storable propellants, and a winged design that allows conventional takeoffs and landings, serving as a demonstrator for the company's future satellite-launching Mk-III vehicle.

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A New Zealand company developing a supersonic, remotely operated, rocket-powered aircraft has been given the all clear to break the sound barrier.

Dawn Aerospace, manufacturer of the Mk-II Aurora, announced that New Zealand’s Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) has granted it approval to fly at “unlimited” speeds at up to 80,000 feet in altitude. The company is permitted to fly beyond the visual line of sight (BVLOS) of a remote pilot and will not be limited to restricted airspace.

Jack Daleo

Jack is a staff writer covering advanced air mobility, including everything from drones to unmanned aircraft systems to space travel—and a whole lot more. He spent close to two years reporting on drone delivery for FreightWaves, covering the biggest news and developments in the space and connecting with industry executives and experts. Jack is also a basketball aficionado, a frequent traveler and a lover of all things logistics.