Aurora spaceplane
An uncrewed, rocket-powered spaceplane that takes off from a runway, is designed to pass 100 km and fly again within hours, carrying up to 15 kg of experiments.
Why it matters
Researchers who need a few minutes of microgravity or high-altitude data today wait months for a sounding rocket. A reusable aircraft-like vehicle could fly them far more often.
How the technology works
Aurora is a small winged vehicle with a rocket engine that takes off and lands on a runway like an aircraft. Dawn has run flight tests since 2016, including customer payload flights in 2026, and is working toward its targets of Mach 3.7, 100 km and a four-hour turnaround.
It is building a hangar for Aurora in Oklahoma.
Sources
Updated Oct 22, 2026 · How we source facts · Suggest a correction