The MK-II Aurora, a prototype spaceplane designed by TU Delft alumni Tobias Knop and Jeroen Wink, recently broke the sound barrier for the first time. Developed by their company Dawn Aerospace, the MK-II Aurora aims to revolutionize space travel with its reusable, runway-launched design.

Unlike traditional rockets, the Aurora combines rocket propulsion with aircraft-like versatility, capable of taking off from standard runways. During a test in New Zealand, the five-meter-long craft reached supersonic speeds at an altitude of 25 kilometers. Future plans include a larger version capable of delivering satellites into space and returning to Earth.

Congratulations to the team for reaching this milestone! We are excited to see what the future brings!

For information go here.