US secures Aurora suborbital spaceplane for flights from Oklahoma

Dawn Aerospace has secured its first order for the Aurora suborbital spaceplane with a deal to operate flights out of Oklahoma.

The New Zealand-based company announced on June 12 that it has signed a binding partnership agreement with the Oklahoma Space Industry Development Authority (OSIDA) to run the Aurora Mark 2 vehicle from the Oklahoma Air and Space Port, Caliber.Az reports via US media.

Flights are planned to commence as early as 2027.

Earlier, on May 22, Dawn Aerospace revealed it would begin selling the Aurora Mark 2 — a spaceplane capable of runway takeoff, carrying payloads up to five kilograms to an altitude of 100 kilometres, before returning for a runway landing. Unlike traditional space launch providers, Dawn plans to sell the vehicle directly to customers who will operate it themselves, in a business model somewhat akin to commercial aviation.

The $17 million contract with OSIDA combines the sale of the spaceplane with an operations support team provided by Dawn Aerospace. CEO Stefan Powell explained in an interview that the company will recruit a team in Oklahoma, bring them to New Zealand for comprehensive training, including test flights, and then send the team back to Oklahoma to manage up to 100 Aurora flights during the first year.

“They wanted assurance that the first year of operations would run smoothly,” Powell said of OSIDA. “We’re happy to commit to that. Ultimately, though, we want to empower them to operate the vehicle independently.”

The Oklahoma flights will be the first operational missions for the Aurora Mark 2 following its test program in New Zealand. A prior version of the aircraft has already flown supersonic, reaching 25 kilometres last November.

OSIDA has been cultivating the Oklahoma spaceport — a former Air Force base near Burns Flat with a long runway — for over 20 years to attract spaceflight customers. Previously, Rocketplane Kistler, a startup developing a suborbital spaceplane, was the spaceport’s anchor tenant but went bankrupt before conducting any flights.

Dawn Aerospace plans to gradually increase Aurora production, starting with the Oklahoma vehicle in 2027, followed by one or two additional units in 2028, ultimately aiming for a steady production rate of five vehicles annually.

Powell highlighted that potential payload customers include those conducting suborbital research, serving as a stepping stone to orbital microgravity experiments, as well as clients testing hardware in space conditions. These users are drawn by Aurora’s low cost and frequent flight capabilities.

He also noted broader potential uses for the spaceplane, such as Earth and space science research and national security applications like simulating missile trajectories.

“It’s an aircraft that can reach space,” Powell said. “Its high flight cadence and affordability open up a wide range of applications.”

By Tamilla Hasanova