TU Delft Alumni Tobias Knop and Jeroen Wink have achieved a big milestone with their company Dawn Aerospace. Their prototype spacecraft, the MK-II Aurora, recently broke the sound barrier at 25 kilometers altitude.
Dawn Aerospace began as a student project in 2017, focusing on creating a reusable alternative to traditional rockets. Operating from Delft and Christchurch, the company has already commercialized satellite propulsion systems and continues to develop the MK-II Aurora. Unlike traditional rockets, this innovative spacecraft is designed to take off and land on conventional runways, making space access potentially more flexible and sustainable. The ultimate goal is to scale up the design to carry satellites into space, marking a step forward in reusable space technology.
Future tests aim to reach altitudes above 100 kilometers, with plans for a larger spacecraft capable of deploying satellites while returning safely to Earth.
Read the full NOS story (in Dutch) here: https://lnkd.in/eGF6kW38
#TUDelft #TUDelftforLife #TUDelftAlumni #Aerospace
Delft University of Technology | TU Delft Alumni Aerospace Engineering
We just made history! Twice!
On Nov 12, the Mk-II Aurora flew supersonic!
We hit Mach 1.1 & and an altitude of 82,500ft in an 85 deg climb 💪
PLUS, we set a new record as the fastest aircraft to 66,000 ft in just 118.6 seconds—beating a 50-year-old record! 🔥
Learn more: https://lnkd.in/gzs7r4XC
🌍✈️ #Aerospace #Supersonic
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3wHappy New Year Svetlana