Oklahoma, USA – June 12, 2025 – Dawn Aerospace and the Oklahoma Space Industry Development Authority (OSIDA) have signed a binding partnership to bring a Mk-II Aurora spaceplane to Oklahoma. As part of the agreement, Dawn will deliver and operate Aurora at the Oklahoma Air and Space Port. The Aurora is scheduled for delivery in 2027, with flights to space commencing that same year.
Our mission is to push the boundaries of aviation all the way to space, and Oklahoma is a perfect place in the United States to make that happen,”
“By developing a rapidly reusable aircraft, we’re bringing the efficiency of aviation to spaceflight—dramatically increasing flight frequency, cutting costs, and accelerating breakthroughs in science and space research that deliver critical insights and services for a better future.”
A rocket-powered, remote-piloted aircraft, the Aurora is designed to carry payloads of up to 11 lbs (5 kg) to altitudes of 330,000 feet (100 km). With a rapid turnaround time of just four hours, it would be the first aircraft to reach above the Karman line twice in one day. This capability at the Oklahoma Spaceport builds on OSIDA’s commitment to aerospace innovation and economic growth since its founding in 1999. The spaceport is set to become one of America’s busiest suborbital launch sites, serving as a hub for microgravity research, atmospheric studies, and satellite technology testing.
“The next industrial revolution is happening in space, and the scientific research and commercialization opportunities that exist in microgravity are transformational. Operating Dawn’s Aurora spaceplane at the Oklahoma Air and Space Port will reduce costs and increase access to microgravity throughout the space industry. This partnership positions Oklahoma at the center of American space innovation,” said Jim Bridenstine, managing partner of the Artemis Group and former NASA administrator (2018-2021).
Oklahoma is positioned to be at the forefront of the next space frontier and a hub for national defense.” –
Oklahoma Lt. Governor Matt Pinnell.
“With targeted investment, the state is moving to secure frequent and reliable space access and is set to become America’s busiest suborbital launch site. Launching from Burns Flat will unlock a new class of microgravity research, national security applications, and commercial innovation.”
Microgravity research allows scientists to study physical and biological processes in ways that are impossible on Earth. In a weightless environment, fundamental forces like convection and gravity-driven fluid motion disappear, providing new insights into material science and biomedical research. Frequent and low-cost access to microgravity will accelerate discoveries, with potential breakthroughs in areas such as cancer and liver disease drug development, and advanced materials research.
Under the agreement, Dawn will supply the aircraft, ground control station, and an operations team. Flights on Aurora are expected to cost, on average, low hundreds of thousands of dollars per flight. Campaigns of multiple flights will enable researchers to conduct experiments in rapid succession, accelerating scientific progress while keeping costs low. Oklahoma colleges and universities will have free access to the aircraft for research purposes for the first year of operations.
Reaching an altitude of 82,500 ft and achieving Mach 1.12, Aurora set a new benchmark for the fastest ‘time to altitude’ for an aircraft, surpassing a record held by the modified F-15 Streak Eagle set in 1975.
Aurora’s development will continue through 2027, with manufacturing and flight testing conducted at Dawn’s R&D facilities in Christchurch, New Zealand.
About Dawn Aerospace:
Dawn Aerospace is developing the fastest and highest-flying aircraft ever to take off from a runway, combining the performance of rocket propulsion with the reusability of conventional airplanes to enable high-frequency, low-cost access to high altitudes and space. In 2024, its Mk-II Aurora spaceplane broke the sound barrier, reaching Mach 1.12 and climbing to 82,500 feet, setting a record for the fastest climb to 20 kilometers (65,600 feet).
Dawn’s remotely piloted aircraft are certified under New Zealand’s CAA Part 102 and the New Zealand Space Agency’s High Altitude License, allowing flight from the ground to beyond 60,000 feet.
Dawn’s founders saw the potential of applying aviation-style operations to spaceflight—delivering routine, runway-based access to space with rocket-powered aircraft. In addition to its spaceplane program, Dawn Aerospace provides propulsion systems for satellite developers, with its technology currently on 25 operational satellites.
