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Mk-II Aurora

Short answer: The Mk-II Aurora is a small, remotely piloted, reusable suborbital spaceplane built by New Zealand-based Dawn Aerospace. It takes off and lands horizontally on ordinary runways and is designed to eventually exceed 100 km.

Its first rocket-powered flights were on March 29-31, 2023, at Glentanner Aerodrome on New Zealand's South Island, reaching about 315 km/h (196 mph); in November 2024 it flew supersonic. The footage, credited to cora.a.harris, shows the spaceplane.

VideoWrite-up2 sources
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What should you know about Mk-II Aurora?

Quick facts. Each one stands alone and has a stable ID you can cite.

  1. Dawn Aerospace.

    DD-508-F01 · Write-up · Exhibit A (Maker)

  2. Horizontal, runway.

    DD-508-F02 · Write-up · Exhibit B (Takeoff)

Video transcript: Mk-II Aurora: Dawn Aerospace's Mk-II Aurora Takes off From a Runway on Rocket Power

Did you know? The Mark II Aurora is a suborbital spaceplane developed by Dawn Aerospace, designed to achieve rapid, reusable access to space. This remotely piloted vehicle takes off and lands horizontally from conventional runways, aiming to reach altitudes above 100 kilometers, or 62 miles, the internationally recognized boundary of space. In March 2023, the Mark II Aurora successfully completed its first rocket-powered test flights over New Zealand's South Island, reaching speeds up to 196 miles per hour, or 315 kilometers per hour. NOW YOU KNOW!

Burned-in captions, read frame by frame (see transcript.md) · 27.2s Reel ·

Video coming soonMk-II Aurora · Instagram Reel
Mk-II Aurora: Dawn Aerospace's Mk-II Aurora Takes off From a Runway on Rocket Power Instagram Reel · · 27.2s

The write-up

Dawn Aerospace's Mk-II Aurora takes off from a runway on rocket power. It first flew under rocket power in March 2023.

  1. Exhibit A

    Maker

    Dawn Aerospace.

  2. Exhibit B

    Takeoff

    Horizontal, runway.

  3. Exhibit C

    Goal

    Above 100 km.

  4. Exhibit D

    First rocket flights

    March 29-31, 2023.

  5. Exhibit E

    Speed

    About 315 km/h.

Questions people ask about Mk-II Aurora

Maker?

New Zealand.

Source: Write-up · Exhibit A (Maker) · Wikipedia: Dawn Aerospace

How does it take off?

Horizontal.

Source: Write-up · Exhibit B (Takeoff) · Space.com: Dawn Aerospace space plane aces first rocket-powered flights

First rocket flights?

Glentanner.

Source: Write-up · Exhibit C (Goal) · Wikipedia: Dawn Aerospace

Target altitude?

Space.

Source: Write-up · Exhibit D (First rocket flights) · Space.com: Dawn Aerospace space plane aces first rocket-powered flights

Piloted how?

Uncrewed.

Source: Write-up · Exhibit E (Speed) · Space.com: Dawn Aerospace space plane aces first rocket-powered flights

Test Your Knowledge

All quizzes →

5 questions, all from this case file. Answers are revealed instantly.

  1. Maker?

    1. Dawn Aerospace
    2. SpaceX
    3. Rocket Lab
    4. Virgin
    Show the answer

    Answer: A. Dawn Aerospace New Zealand. Source: Write-up · Exhibit A (Maker) · Wikipedia: Dawn Aerospace

  2. How does it take off?

    1. Runway
    2. Launch pad
    3. Balloon
    4. Catapult
    Show the answer

    Answer: A. Runway Horizontal. Source: Write-up · Exhibit B (Takeoff) · Space.com: Dawn Aerospace space plane aces first rocket-powered flights

  3. First rocket flights?

    1. March 2023
    2. 2010
    3. 2019
    4. 2025
    Show the answer

    Answer: A. March 2023 Glentanner. Source: Write-up · Exhibit C (Goal) · Wikipedia: Dawn Aerospace

  4. Target altitude?

    1. Above 100 km
    2. 10 m
    3. 1,000 km
    4. 5 km
    Show the answer

    Answer: A. Above 100 km Space. Source: Write-up · Exhibit D (First rocket flights) · Space.com: Dawn Aerospace space plane aces first rocket-powered flights

  5. Piloted how?

    1. Remotely
    2. By two pilots
    3. By AI only
    4. Not at all
    Show the answer

    Answer: A. Remotely Uncrewed. Source: Write-up · Exhibit E (Speed) · Space.com: Dawn Aerospace space plane aces first rocket-powered flights

Cite this case file

Easterling, Marcus. "Mk-II Aurora." The Detail Department (DetailEnjoyer), case file DD-508, last updated Mar 8, 2025. https://detailenjoyer.com/case/mk-ii-aurora/

Permalink: https://detailenjoyer.com/case/mk-ii-aurora/ · Last updated

Markdown version

Cite a single fact by its ID, for example DD-508-F01 → https://detailenjoyer.com/case/mk-ii-aurora/#DD-508-F01