Oklahoma Buys First Aurora Spaceplane from Dawn Aerospace

1 day ago Editor

Dawn Aerospace lands its first sale of the reusable Aurora spaceplane to Oklahoma, paving the way for affordable, high-frequency suborbital launches starting in 2027.

Dawn Aerospace has officially sold its first Aurora spaceplane, marking a milestone for the New Zealand-based aerospace company. The buyer, the Oklahoma Space Industry Development Authority (OSIDA), is set to receive the vehicle in early 2027.

Designed for rapid, reusable suborbital flights, the Aurora spaceplane is a compact launch vehicle capable of carrying up to 22 pounds (10 kg) of payload into near-space environments. What sets it apart is its impressive reusability—up to 1,000 launches per unit. This offers a cost-effective solution for microgravity and upper-atmosphere research, with each flight expected to cost around $100,000.

The $17 million agreement covers both the spaceplane and operational support, including training an Oklahoma-based team in New Zealand. Once operational, OSIDA could launch up to 100 suborbital missions annually from the Burns Flat launch site—positioning Oklahoma as a major hub for commercial space access.

Lieutenant Governor Matt Pinnell highlighted the strategic investment: “Launching from Burns Flat will unlock a new class of microgravity research, national security applications, and commercial innovation.”

While Aurora has completed successful supersonic test flights, full-scale production and commercial missions are still a few years out. Dawn Aerospace is planning limited production—one unit in 2027, two in 2028—with hopes of scaling to five per year.

Uniquely, Aurora’s design allows it to launch from conventional airfields rather than specialized rocket pads, which could revolutionize access to space for universities, governments, and private companies.

With growing interest from multiple global entities, Aurora is poised to redefine the suborbital spaceflight market.