For the first time in history, an aircraft that can fly beyond the Karman line offered for direct sale
- The Aurora is a spaceplane built by Dawn Aerospace
- It’s set to fly at speeds well over 2,600MPH
- The craft should be able to fly into space, above the Karman line
Published on May 27, 2025 at 11:29 PM (UTC+4)
by Henry Kelsall
Last updated on May 27, 2025 at 1:40 PM (UTC+4)
Edited by
Emma Matthews
For the first time in history, a spaceplane that can fly beyond the Karman line is being offered for direct sale.
The spaceplane in question, called the Aurora, is being built in New Zealand and is one of the most striking-looking aircraft you will ever see.
The company behind the aircraft, Dawn Aerospace, hopes it will be the fastest and highest-flying aircraft ever to take off from a standard runway.
With the aircraft available for purchase, it adds even more intrigue to an already fascinating prototype.
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Dawn Aerospace announced earlier in May 2025 that the Aurora is now available for purchase.
Thanks to its power and design, the spaceplane can fly beyond the famous Karman line.
This is a boundary line that sits 328,000FT/100KM above sea level, and is used to mark the edge of space.
It’s effectively the most commonly used defining point as to where space begins.
With the Aurora able to fly beyond it, that means the craft has every right to be called a spaceplane.
The craft has been designed for various roles, such as defense, signals intelligence, and surveillance.
In November 2024, the plane conducted a test flight that saw it reach a speed of Mach 1.12, and it achieved an altitude of 82,500FT.
Which means that the spaceplane will soon be able to breach the Karman line.
The aim is for it to travel at Mach 3.5 or 2,685MPH.
That’s faster than any other aircraft that’s taken off from a conventional runway.
This includes the famous Lockheed-Martin SR-71 Blackbird, which set a speed record in 1976 for piloted aircraft of 2,193MPH.
The Aurora is a striking-looking machine, with a thin fuselage and a small, delta wing.
Images reveal that the Aurora is not a manned aircraft, but a drone controlled remotely from the ground.
Its power comes from a hydrogen peroxide and kerosene rocket engine.
This engine allows the spaceplane to take off and land from conventional runways, which in itself is impressive.
The Aurora is one of the most fascinating aircraft currently under development.
It will be interesting to see who buys the spaceplane and how it is then put to use around the world.
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Henry is a content writer with nearly ten years experience, having written for various publications since 2017. Qualifying with a Sports Journalism degree from Staffordshire University, Henry loves all things automotive but has a particular soft spot for classic Japanese cars and anything Lancia. He also has a curious passion for steam locomotives.
