Dawn Aerospace Achieves Historic Supersonic Flight with Mk-II Aurora

The New Zealand-based company's rocket-powered plane becomes the first civil aircraft to break the sound barrier since the Concorde.

Dawn Aerospace's Mk-II Aurora reached Mach 1.1 and an altitude of 82,500 feet during a test flight in New Zealand.
This marks the first civil supersonic flight since the Concorde was retired in 2003, setting a new world record for climb rate.
The Mk-II Aurora is designed for satellite delivery and scientific research, with plans to reach Mach 3.5 in future developments.
Dawn Aerospace aims to offer daily flights to the edge of space, focusing on microgravity research and atmospheric science.
The company operates with a cost-effective approach, spending significantly less than major aerospace firms while achieving groundbreaking results.