Dawn Aerospace's Mk-II Aurora Breaks Sound Barrier

Dawn Aerospace's Mk-II Aurora has made history by becoming the first civil aircraft to fly supersonic since the Concorde, achieving Mach 1.1 during a test flight over New Zealand on November 12, 2024. This rocket-powered aircraft reached an altitude of 82,500 feet and recorded the fastest climb to 66,000 feet, completing the ascent in just 118.6 seconds. The company's CEO, Stefan Powell, emphasized that this milestone paves the way for operational hypersonic travel and potential commercial space access. The Mk-II Aurora is designed to fly to the edge of space twice daily and aims for speeds up to Mach 3.5 in the future. With advancements in quieter and more efficient supersonic technology, the resurgence of commercial supersonic flight is on the horizon. Dawn Aerospace is also developing a larger Mk-III version to carry commercial payloads, including satellites.