New Zealand-Dutch firm Dawn Aerospace has made the inaugural sale of its Mk-II Aurora spaceplane.
The buyer, the Oklahoma Space Industry Development Authority, has paid a total of US$17 million ($27.6 million), which includes the spaceplane, ground support, and maintenance.
The Oklahoma Space Industry Development Authority is a state government agency that manages a runway and an aerospace innovation center.
“We didn’t originally anticipate selling the Aurora spaceplane. It was a tech demonstrator,” Dawn Aerospace chief executive Stefan Powell said in a conversation with the Herald.
“But it got a lot more attention than we originally thought.”
Towards the end of last year, the Aurora made history as the first civil aircraft to reach supersonic speeds since the Concorde, despite being significantly smaller as an autonomous spaceplane.
It also surpassed the sound barrier, achieving Mach 1.12 at an altitude of 82,500 feet (25,146 metres), and established a record for the quickest ascent to 20 kilometres (65,600 feet).
The Mk II Aurora will be stationed at the Oklahoma Air and Space Port, with delivery planned for 2027 and manufacturing set to occur in Christchurch.
The Aurora spaceplane has a top speed of Mach 3.5 (3650 km/h), a <4-hour turnaround time, a payload capacity of up to 10 kg, and a maximum range of 130 km.
Dawn Aerospace was established in 2017. Its three largest shareholders are Auckland-based Icehouse Ventures, Wellington-based venture capital firm Movac, and Christchurch brothers Stefan and James Powell.
Early investors also included Derek Handley’s Aera Climate & Frontier Fund and Global From Day One (GD1).