Aurora Spaceplane

Dawn Aerospace’s Aurora spaceplane and Scout Space’s Morning Sparrow payload have completed their first suborbital test for tracking objects in space.

The flight tested new ways to quickly monitor activity in Very Low Earth Orbit (VLEO).

Key results:

Flew at supersonic speed (Mach 1.03) up to 67,000 feet

Carried the first space-tracking payload on a reusable spaceplane

Took off and landed on a runway, enabling fast turnaround and quicker access to data compared to traditional satellites

Marked an early step toward frequent, low-cost space monitoring missions

Aurora Spaceplane

This mission aims to develop rapid, mobile systems for space domain awareness, enhancing the speed and flexibility with which information can be gathered to maintain space safety and security.