Earlier this month, Dawn Aerospace, based in New Zealand, achieved a milestone with the successful supersonic flight of its Mk-II Aurora rocket-powered aircraft.
The uncrewed plane reached a speed of Mach 1.1 and an altitude of 82,500 feet during a test flight from Glentanner Aerodrome near Aoraki/Mount Cook, marking the first time a civilian aircraft has flown supersonic since the iconic Concorde.
The Mk-II Aurora results from an innovative approach to aircraft design and propulsion. Measuring just 16 feet long with a wingspan of 13 feet, the Aurora is powered by a pure rocket propulsion system that enables it to achieve exceptional speeds. Unlike conventional jet engines, rockets provide thrust-to-weight ratios up to 20 times higher and are not limited to operating within the atmosphere.
During the flight, the Mk-II Aurora surpassed its target speed of Mach 1.05 and altitude of 75,000 feet, reaching Mach 1.1 and soaring to 82,500 feet—more than twice as high as commercial aircraft typically fly.
The Aurora set a new global record, becoming the fastest aircraft to climb from ground level to 66,000 feet in just 118.6 seconds. This beat the previous record held by a highly modified F-15 “Streak Eagle” in the 1970s by 4.2 seconds.
The Mk-II Aurora relies on advanced propulsion, materials, and aerodynamic design to achieve such impressive performance. The aircraft uses a non-toxic propulsion system of nitrous oxide and propylene, stored as liquid gases under vapour pressure. During flight, these fuels are mixed and ignited in the combustion chamber, generating the thrust needed to propel the aircraft to supersonic speeds.
The extreme forces and temperatures encountered during high-speed flight require advanced composite materials such as carbon fibre and ceramic matrix composites. These lightweight, heat-resistant materials help maintain the Aurora’s structural integrity while minimizing weight, which is crucial for maximizing performance.
The aerodynamic design also plays a vital role in the Mk-II Aurora’s ability to fly at supersonic speeds. The aircraft’s shape, nose cone, wings, and control surfaces must be carefully optimized to minimize drag and maintain stability.
Computational fluid dynamics simulations and extensive wind tunnel testing were essential for validating these designs before the flight to ensure the aircraft could withstand the rigours of supersonic flight.
The Aurora’s rocket engine is key to its performance. Unlike jet engines, which rely on the surrounding air for combustion, rockets carry both fuel and oxidizer onboard. This allows them to operate in the thin upper atmosphere and even in the vacuum of space. Rocket engines’ high thrust-to-weight ratio and ability to function in low-density air make them ideal for propelling aircraft to hypersonic speeds and suborbital altitudes.
We can make educated guesses about other tech the Aurora must use that Dawn Aerospace still needs to outline. For instance, it likely employs advanced thermal protection systems to manage the heat generated by air friction during supersonic flight. These likely include ablative coatings that gradually burn away, absorbing heat and protecting the underlying structure, or active cooling systems that circulate coolant to dissipate heat. Effective thermal management is critical for preventing structural damage and maintaining the aircraft’s integrity during high-speed flight.
Precision guidance, navigation, and control systems make rapid and accurate adjustments to maintain stability and control. The aircraft likely incorporates advanced avionics, sensors, and actuators to enable autonomous flight and ensure precise manoeuvrability.
While the Mk-II Aurora is designed for suborbital missions, the engineering principles and technologies it demonstrates have broader implications for the future of high-speed flight, providing a test case for crewed vehicles capable of hypersonic point-to-point travel and routine access to space.
Dawn Aerospace CEO Stefan Powell emphasized the significance of this achievement, stating, “With flight test 57, we retired the final major technical risk in the Aurora program: vehicle dynamics through the transonic regime. We have now confirmed the Aurora as the highest climb rate vehicle ever built. This milestone sets the stage for Aurora to become the world’s highest and fastest-flying aircraft and paves the way for the first operational hypersonic aircraft, redefining what’s possible in aviation.”
The company plans to use the Mk-II Aurora’s capabilities to offer suborbital payload services, carrying payloads up to 550 pounds (250 kg) for microgravity research, atmospheric science, Earth observation, and high-speed flight testing.
The company is also developing an upgraded Mk-III version of the Aurora, which aims to reach speeds of Mach 3.5 and soar to the edge of space twice a day at 62 miles (100 km) altitude.
The successful flight comes at a time of renewed interest in supersonic travel. While the Concorde, which flew from 1976 to 2003, remains the only supersonic passenger aircraft to date, several companies are now working to develop new supersonic and hypersonic aircraft. These include Boom Supersonic, which produced the Overture passenger jet aimed at flying at Mach 2.2, and Hermeus, which worked on a Mach 5 aircraft for rapid international travel.
However, the path to widespread supersonic flight is challenging. One of the primary concerns is the sonic boom generated by aircraft breaking the sound barrier, which can be disruptive and potentially harmful to people and wildlife on the ground. To address this issue, NASA and Lockheed Martin have been developing the X-59 QueSST, a demonstrator aircraft designed to produce a quieter “sonic thump” instead of a boom.
Another challenge is the environmental impact of supersonic flight. Due to the increased drag at high speeds, supersonic aircraft typically burn more fuel per passenger than subsonic planes. This leads to higher emissions of greenhouse gases and other pollutants. To mitigate these impacts, researchers are exploring using sustainable aviation fuels and different engine designs that could reduce emissions.
Despite the challenges, the potential benefits of supersonic and hypersonic flight are significant. Faster air travel significantly reduces journey times, enabling more efficient global commerce and facilitating personal connections across vast distances. Moreover, developing rocket-powered aircraft like the Mk-II Aurora could open up new opportunities for suborbital tourism, rapid point-to-point cargo delivery, and cost-effective access to space.
When Dawn Aerospace begins commercial payload flights with the Mk-II Aurora in the coming months under its Dawn Hypersonics brand, we should see more clearly how sustainable the suborbital business is.
Whatever the future brings, the Mk-II Aurora rocket-powered aircraft’s supersonic flight demonstrates the immense potential of this emerging technology. By showing the capability to fly faster than the speed of sound and reach the edge of space, the Aurora could pave the way for a new era of hypersonic travel and expanded access to space.
TLDR:
- Dawn Aerospace’s Mk-II Aurora achieved the first civilian supersonic flight since Concorde, reaching Mach 1.1 and 82,500 feet.
- The uncrewed rocket-powered aircraft set a new record for the fastest climb to 66,000 feet, beating the previous record by 4.2 seconds.
- Advanced propulsion, materials, aerodynamics, thermal protection, and guidance systems enable the Aurora’s exceptional performance.
- Dawn Aerospace plans to offer suborbital payload services and develop a Mach 3.5 Mk-III version capable of reaching the edge of space twice daily.
- The flight marks a significant milestone in developing supersonic and hypersonic travel, with potential applications in point-to-point transportation and space access.
