Dawn Aerospace is a space transportation company founded in 2017 by Stefan Powell, Jeroen Wink, James Powell, Robert Werner, and Tobias Knop, with roots in TU Delft and New Zealand's aviation ecosystem. The company operates on two core fronts: it is the fastest-growing provider of flight-proven, non-toxic (nitrous oxide-based) satellite propulsion systems — with 176 thrusters now operating across 42 satellites in LEO, GEO, and beyond — and is developing the Mk-II Aurora, a reusable rocket-powered spaceplane.
The Aurora made history in November 2024 as the first civil aircraft to fly supersonic since the Concorde, reaching 82,000 ft, and achieved same-day dual flights (two flights within 8 hours) in March 2025. With 130+ employees across the Netherlands, New Zealand, France, and the US, Dawn's overarching mission is to bring the frequency and reliability of commercial aviation to spaceflight.dawnaerospace+2