Regular spaceplane flights planned in project

Spaceplanes could take off on regular and possibly daily flights from Cornwall following an agreement.

Space transport firm Dawn Aerospace and Spaceport Cornwall have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) for a project looking at creating "rapid, reuseable access to suborbital space" in the UK.

The scheme, known as Dawn Aerospace Suborbital Horizontal UK Launch Programme (Dash UK), would allow Dawn Aerospace's Aurora unmanned 5m (16.4ft) long spaceplane to operate from the Spaceport's base at Cornwall Airport Newquay, project leaders said.

Spaceport head of engagement Ross Hulbert said the partnership represented an opportunity to bring "genuinely transformational" aerospace capability.

Suborbital flight is when a vehicle reaches outer space but flies at a speed below what is known as orbital velocity, which must be maintained to remain in orbit around the Earth.

The Aurora spaceplane is being developed by Dawn Aerospace as a reusable, rocket-powered vehicle which can reach altitudes of up to 100km (62 miles) and speeds exceeding Mach 3.7 - about 2,840mph (4,570 km/h).

Spaceport Cornwall said the spacecraft, which could carry a load of up to 15kg (33lbs), could take off and land on a conventional runway and was designed for a quick turnaround which meant 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 look at microgravity research, high-altitude testing and advanced aerospace missions, Spaceport Cornwall and Dawn Aerospace added.

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.

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