Oklahoma's frontier in space just expanded with the announcement that Dawn Aerospace will base its new Aurora Mark 2 spaceplane at the Oklahoma Air & Space Port in Burns Flat. This move, hailed by local politicians, is set to shake up the local economy and bring tech innovation right to the heartland's doorstep. The Aurora Mark 2 is not your granddad's rocket—it's a sleek, suborbital spaceplane that can zip payloads up to the edge of space and glide right back onto a runway, ready for another run.
According to an article by the Oklahoma House of Representatives, Rep. Nick Archer, R-Elk City, and Speaker Pro Tempore Anthony Moore, R-Clinton, could barely contain their enthusiasm over the new partnership, which may kick off its out-of-this-world flights as early as 2027. "The arrival of Dawn Aerospace and its cutting-edge Aurora spaceplane shows that Oklahoma is at the forefront of the future of aerospace," Archer said. Moore added to this, ensuring that the spaceport's evolution into a word-class facility reflects years of effort and investment, a boon not just for Western Oklahoma, but for the whole state.
Dawn Aerospace's investment in Oklahoma doesn't just end with a new set of wings for the skies; it ushers in a $17 million partnership with the Oklahoma Space Industry Development Authority (OSIDA). This deal brings together the Aurora Mark 2 vehicle and an operational team prepared for up to 100 flight days and 200 flights after the initial testing phase is completed.
The Aurora Mark 2, unlike the towering behemoths of space travel past that needed rocket launches and ocean recoveries, takes off and lands horizontally on a conventional runway. Before the spaceplane's rockets ignite over Oklahoma soil, Dawn Aerospace will train a local team in New Zealand, transferring knowledge and expertise. With Oklahoma's nearly 3-mile-long runway and a dedicated corridor for space flights, the state solidifies its place among only 14 FAA-licensed spaceports in the United States.
