Dawn Aerospace announced the successful completion of its 2-2 flight test campaign for its Mk-II rocket-powered aircraft. During the campaign, which took place in late July, three flights were conducted, reaching a maximum speed of Mach 0.92 (967 km/h) and an altitude of 50,000 ft (15.1 km). These achievements represent a significant advance compared to previous tests. previous testsThe speed was tripled and the altitude reached was increased fivefold.
The company, founded in 2017 by Stefan Powell and his partners, is dedicated to accelerating the next generation of people in space through the development of advanced technologies. With the success of the 2-2 campaign, Dawn Aerospace is preparing for the next phase of testing, the 2-3 campaign (scheduled for September), where they plan to reach supersonic speeds.
MK-II: An aircraft with rocket performance
The Mk-II Aurora is designed to be a high-performance vehicle capable of taking off from a runway, combining the speed and reusability of an aircraft with the performance of a rocket. This innovative approach allows frequent testing and design tuning based on real data, rather than relying solely on simulations.
To date, Dawn Aerospace has invested approximately $10 million in the development of the Mk-II, with a total projected budget of less than $20 million. This efficiency is due to its design philosophy, which prioritizes rapid reusability and high reliability, typical aircraft characteristics, applied to a space vehicle.
Flight 53 of the Mk-II Aurora at Mach 0.9. Source: Dawn Aerospace.
Company CEO Stefan Powell stresses that the Mk-II’s ability to fly twice in a single day represents a major achievement in the history of aviation and space space exploration. With each flight, Dawn Aerospace moves closer to its goal of offering scalable and sustainable sustainable, scalable space transportation.
Dawn Aerospace’s approach not only has implications for the space industry, but also opens up new opportunities in markets such as atmospheric research, Earth observation and defense. The company continues to innovate and expand the boundaries of what is possible with its reusable space vehicles. reusable space vehicles.
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Source and photo: Dawn Aerospace
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