PREVIEW

A rocket-powered aircraft has broken the sound barrier for the first time since Concorde. Dawn Aerospace’s MK-11 Aurora jet reached supersonic speeds following a successful test flight in New Zealand on November 12. The uncrewed aircraft climbed to an altitude of 82,500 feet in just 118.6 seconds, setting new records for speed and altitude in New Zealand. Dawn Aerospace highlighted that the performance surpassed a modified F-15’s climb time record set in the 1970s. The MK-11 Aurora is the first supersonic aircraft designed and built in New Zealand, paving the way for daily space access. Dawn Aerospace plans to push the jet to speeds of Mach 3.5, operating at the edge of space at 327,360 feet. The aircraft is set to revolutionise microgravity research, atmospheric science, and high-speed flight testing. ”This achievement signifies a major step toward operational hypersonic travel," Dawn Aerospace said in a statement. CEO Stefan Powell highlighted that the Aurora is now confirmed as the highest climb rate vehicle ever built.