Dawn Aerospace
Dawn Aerospace develops non-toxic, refuelable satellite propulsion systems and rapidly reusable spaceplanes.
Its Aurora spaceplane is an uncrewed rocket-powered aircraft for routine access to suborbital space.
- Type
- ManufacturerEditorial
- Capabilities
- Location
- Christchurch, Canterbury (South Island)Editorial
- Sectors served
- Space, DefenceEditorial, Research and educationEditorial
- Founded
- 2017
- Website
- dawnaerospace.com
- Careers
- www.dawnaerospace.com/careers
- Last checked
- 28 October 2026
Products and programmes
-
Aurora Spaceplane
“The Aurora spaceplane is an uncrewed rocket-powered aircraft that provides routine, affordable access to suborbital space”
Source: dawnaerospace.com -
SatDrive
“SatDrive is Dawn's flagship propulsion system for 30 kg to 500+ kg satellites.”
Source: dawnaerospace.com -
CubeDrive
“CubeDrive is Dawn’s propulsion system for CubeSat-class spacecraft.”
Source: dawnaerospace.com -
B20, B1Editorial
“B20 (20N bipropellant) & B1 (1N bipropellant) thruster).”
Source: dawnaerospace.com
Where it works
In New Zealand
Christchurch, Canterbury
“Our Offices: Christchurch, New Zealand | Delft, the Netherlands | United States | Toulouse, France”
Outside New Zealand
Delft, Netherlands
“Our Offices: Christchurch, New Zealand | Delft, the Netherlands | United States | Toulouse, France”
Toulouse, France
“Our Offices: Christchurch, New Zealand | Delft, the Netherlands | United States | Toulouse, France”
History
- 2023
“On the 29th of March 2023, we transitioned from jet engines to our first rocket-powered flights.”
Source: dawnaerospace.com - 2024
“Aurora flew supersonic on the 12th of November 2024, and did so in an 85-degree climb, also breaking a world ‘time to climb’ record”
Source: dawnaerospace.com - 2024
“On 12 November 2024, the Aurora surpassing the speed of sound for the first time, reaching Mach 1.1 and climbing to an altitude of 82,500 feet.”
Source: dawnaerospace.com - 2024
“On the 4th of October 2024, we successfully proved our “turnaround” capability by flying two rocket-powered missions in a single day”
Source: dawnaerospace.com - 2025
“Dawn Aerospace announced today it has been selected to provide its SatDrive propulsion system for the Royal Netherlands Air and Space Force's flagship PAMI-1”
Source: dawnaerospace.com - 2025
“Dawn Aerospace has reached important technical milestones under the European Commission–funded GEOryder programme, supporting the development of robust”
Source: dawnaerospace.com - 2026
“Astral Materials has selected Dawn Aerospace's Aurora spaceplane as a high-cadence testbed to accelerate development of its microgravity furnace hardware”
Source: dawnaerospace.com - 2026
“Dawn Aerospace today announced the close of its Series B funding round, raising $25 million at a $195 million post-money valuation.”
Source: dawnaerospace.com - 2026
“Dawn Aerospace, Infinite Orbits and Exotrail have completed a twelve-month Research & Technology study commissioned by CNES, the French Space Agency.”
Source: dawnaerospace.com - 2026
“state leaders joined Dawn Aerospace to break ground on a new mission control facility and spaceplane hangar at Infinity One Oklahoma Spaceport”
Source: dawnaerospace.com
Common questions about Dawn Aerospace
Where is Dawn Aerospace based in New Zealand?
Christchurch, Canterbury.
Where does Dawn Aerospace work outside New Zealand?
Office in Delft, Netherlands and office in Toulouse, France.
What does Dawn Aerospace make or run?
Its products and programmes include Aurora Spaceplane, SatDrive, CubeDrive, B20 and B1.
When was Dawn Aerospace founded?
2017.
What are Dawn Aerospace's milestones?
The directory lists 10, from 2023 (“On the 29th of March 2023, we transitioned from jet engines to our first rocket-powered flights.”) to 2026 (“state leaders joined Dawn Aerospace to break ground on a new mission control facility and spaceplane hangar at Infinity One Oklahoma Spaceport”). See History
Which sectors does Dawn Aerospace serve?
Space, Defence and Research and education.
Is Dawn Aerospace hiring in New Zealand?
The directory has seen 12 open roles in New Zealand in the last 14 days. See Jobs
How can I contact Dawn Aerospace?
Through its website, dawnaerospace.com.
Updates
-
Oklahoma Breaks Ground on $7.5 Million Dawn Aerospace Facility at Infinity One Spaceport
Dawn Aerospace broke ground on a new mission control facility and spaceplane hangar at Infinity One Oklahoma Spaceport. The facility is valued at $7.5 million and is intended to support commercial spaceflight in western Oklahoma.
-
Dawn Aerospace, Infinite Orbits and Exotrail completes CNES R&T Study on Next-Generation Refuellable Spacecraft Platforms
Dawn Aerospace, Infinite Orbits, and Exotrail have completed a twelve-month study commissioned by CNES to assess the potential of refuellable spacecraft platforms. The study concluded that refueling capability is technically feasible and can be integrated into spacecraft architectures without fundamental changes.
-
AULE SPACE SELECTS DAWN SATDRIVE PROPULSION FOR DOCKING DEMONSTRATION MISSION
Dawn Aerospace has signed a commercial contract to deliver a customized SatDrive propulsion system for Aule Space's upcoming docking demonstration mission.
-
Astral Materials Secures Microgravity Campaign with Dawn Aerospace to Advance Next-Generation Materials and Semiconductor Manufacturing
Astral Materials has selected Dawn Aerospace's Aurora spaceplane to test its microgravity furnace hardware for next-generation materials manufacturing. The agreement includes an initial campaign of up to 100 microgravity flight missions over two years at the Oklahoma Infinity One Spaceport.
-
Dawn Aerospace Closes US$25 Million Series B to Accelerate Global Expansion of Reusable Space Transportation
Dawn Aerospace announced the close of its Series B funding round, raising $25 million at a $195 million post-money valuation. The round was led by US-based VC, Balerion Space Ventures.
All 13 updates from Dawn Aerospace
Jobs
-
Ingénieur Autorisation de vol & Certification (Contrat à durée déterminée (CDD) de 6 mois)
-
Senior Flight Safety Engineer– Spaceplane
-
Manufacturing Supply Chain Coordinator
-
Certification Engineer
-
Project Manager – Space Propulsion
-
Full Stack Web Developer
-
Electronics Engineer
-
Flight Authorization & Certification Engineer (6 Month Fixed-Term Contract(CDD))
-
System Design Engineer
-
Senior Software Engineer - Business Automation
All 22 roles at Dawn Aerospace
Sources
About 2 sources
- Editorial
“We deliver this capability today with non-toxic, refuelable satellite propulsion and rapidly reusable spaceplanes.”
- Editorial
“The Aurora spaceplane is an uncrewed rocket-powered aircraft that provides routine, affordable access to suborbital space with aircraft-like simplicity.”
Capability 2 sources
- Editorial
“Dawn's nitrous-based propulsion systems are the fastest-growing chemical propulsion type in the world, with 200+ thrusters on 50+ satellites in orbit.”
- Editorial
“The Aurora spaceplane is an uncrewed rocket-powered aircraft that provides routine, affordable access to suborbital space with aircraft-like simplicity.”
Location 1 source
- Editorial
“Our Offices: Christchurch, New Zealand | Delft, the Netherlands | United States | Toulouse, France”
Founded 1 source
-
“Dawn Aerospace was founded in 2017 by Stefan Powell, Jeroen Wink, James Powell, Robert Werner and Tobias Knop”
Product or programme 4 sources
-
“The Aurora spaceplane is an uncrewed rocket-powered aircraft that provides routine, affordable access to suborbital space”
-
“SatDrive is Dawn's flagship propulsion system for 30 kg to 500+ kg satellites.”
-
“CubeDrive is Dawn’s propulsion system for CubeSat-class spacecraft.”
- Editorial
“B20 (20N bipropellant) & B1 (1N bipropellant) thruster).”
Overseas site 1 source
-
“Our Offices: Christchurch, New Zealand | Delft, the Netherlands | United States | Toulouse, France”
Milestone 10 sources
-
“On the 4th of October 2024, we successfully proved our “turnaround” capability by flying two rocket-powered missions in a single day”
-
“Dawn Aerospace announced today it has been selected to provide its SatDrive propulsion system for the Royal Netherlands Air and Space Force's flagship PAMI-1”
-
“On 12 November 2024, the Aurora surpassing the speed of sound for the first time, reaching Mach 1.1 and climbing to an altitude of 82,500 feet.”
-
“state leaders joined Dawn Aerospace to break ground on a new mission control facility and spaceplane hangar at Infinity One Oklahoma Spaceport”
-
“Dawn Aerospace, Infinite Orbits and Exotrail have completed a twelve-month Research & Technology study commissioned by CNES, the French Space Agency.”
-
“Astral Materials has selected Dawn Aerospace's Aurora spaceplane as a high-cadence testbed to accelerate development of its microgravity furnace hardware”
-
“Dawn Aerospace today announced the close of its Series B funding round, raising $25 million at a $195 million post-money valuation.”
-
“On the 29th of March 2023, we transitioned from jet engines to our first rocket-powered flights.”
-
“Aurora flew supersonic on the 12th of November 2024, and did so in an 85-degree climb, also breaking a world ‘time to climb’ record”
-
“Dawn Aerospace has reached important technical milestones under the European Commission–funded GEOryder programme, supporting the development of robust”
Sector served 3 sources
-
“Turn-key nitrous-based thrusters and propulsion systems for CubeSats, SmallSats, Orbital Transfer Vehicles, Re-entry capsules and everything in between.”
- Editorial
“Defense and domain awareness applications”
- Editorial
“California Polytechnic State University has become the first U.S. university to fly a student-built research payload on Dawn Aerospace’s Aurora spaceplane.”