Regular spaceplane flights planned in project
An agreement is reached between Dawn Aerospace and Spaceport Cornwall.
Regular spaceplane flights are being planned as part of a project
Dawn Aerospace and Spaceport Cornwall have signed a Memorandum of Understanding
Spaceplanes could begin operating regular, and possibly daily, flights from Cornwall after an agreement was reached.
Space transport company Dawn Aerospace and Spaceport Cornwall have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) for a project aimed at creating "rapid, reuseable access to suborbital space" in the UK.
The initiative, called the Dawn Aerospace Suborbital Horizontal UK Launch Programme (Dash UK), would enable Dawn Aerospace's Aurora unmanned spaceplane, which is 5m (16.4ft) long, to fly from the Spaceport's base at Cornwall Airport Newquay, according to project leaders.
Spaceport head of engagement Ross Hulbert said the partnership offered a chance to deliver "genuinely transformational" aerospace capability.
Suborbital flight is when a vehicle reaches outer space but travels at a speed below what is known as orbital velocity.
The Aurora spaceplane is being developed by Dawn Aerospace as a reusable, rocket-powered vehicle capable of reaching altitudes of up to 100km (62 miles) and speeds above Mach 3.7 - about 2,840mph (4,570 km/h).
Spaceport Cornwall said the spacecraft, which could carry a payload of up to 15kg (33lbs), could take off and land on a conventional runway and was designed for a quick turnaround, meaning it could go into space "twice a day".
It said the spacecraft could support commercial, defence, scientific, atmospheric research and technology demonstration missions.
Dash UK would also examine microgravity research, high-altitude testing and advanced aerospace missions, Spaceport Cornwall and Dawn Aerospace added.
Dawn Aerospace's 5m-long Aurora spaceplane could carry a payload of up to 15kg
Hulbert said: "The Aurora spaceplane offers a more responsive and reusable approach to accessing the upper atmosphere and near-space environment, opening new possibilities for research organisations, technology developers, defence users and commercial customers."
Stefan Powell, chief executive at Dawn Aerospace, said the company's vision was to make space access "as routine as aviation".
"Partnering with Spaceport Cornwall through this MoU is an important step towards bringing that capability to the UK, enabling customers to fly more frequently, iterate faster and accelerate innovation," Powell said.