Spaceport Cornwall and Dawn Aerospace explore suborbital flight service

Spaceport Cornwall and Dawn Aerospace have signed a Memorandum of Understanding to examine establishing the DASH UK service at Cornwall Airport Newquay, potentially bringing reusable suborbital flights, microgravity research and high-speed aerospace testing into routine UK operations.

The agreement, signed in Newquay, Cornwall, on 19th October 2026, sets out work on customer engagement, regulatory pathways and future operational planning. The organisations will assess the operational, regulatory and commercial requirements for a sustainable DASH UK service.

Dawn Aerospace’s Aurora spaceplane could operate from the site. The reusable, rocket-powered vehicle is designed to reach altitudes of up to 100 km and speeds exceeding Mach 3.7, supporting commercial, defence, scientific, atmospheric research and technology demonstration missions.

Aurora takes off and lands on a conventional runway and is designed for rapid turnaround, in as little as four hours. The “space twice in a day” model could allow multiple missions within a single day, carrying payloads of up to 15 kg and providing access to more than two minutes of microgravity, high-speed flight testing and near-space conditions.

Spaceport Cornwall said the proposed service would build on its licensed spaceport infrastructure and one of the UK’s longest runways. The site at Cornwall Airport Newquay combines commercial aviation, spaceflight and military operations, while the region has a growing network of aerospace, space and technology organisations.

The project forms part of a broader ambition to develop Cornwall as a future air and space testing and development ecosystem, bringing together space access, aviation, aerospace R&D and advanced technology development. Spaceport Cornwall is also seeking to develop Newquay as a year-round location for horizontal launch and suborbital flight, technology testing, research, payload return and other emerging aerospace capabilities.

The organisations said the collaboration aligns with the UK Space Strategy’s emphasis on access to space, commercial growth, resilient national capability and international partnership. They said it could support investment, skills and high-value R&D in Cornwall and across the UK.

Ross Hulbert, Head of Engagement at Spaceport Cornwall, said: “This MoU represents an exciting opportunity to bring a genuinely transformational aerospace capability to the UK. 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. Together with Dawn Aerospace, we aim to establish Cornwall as the UK’s gateway for routine suborbital flight.”

Stefan Powell, CEO at Dawn Aerospace, said: “Our vision is 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.”

Dawn Aerospace is developing technologies intended to enable more frequent access to space and greater mobility once there. The company is developing Aurora to combine rocket propulsion with aircraft reusability. With 64 test-flights complete, the full-performance Aurora will begin flying in 2027.

Founded in 2017, Dawn Aerospace operates global with over 150 staff across the Netherlands, France, Germany, New Zealand, and the United States. Spaceport Cornwall is the UK’s first licensed spaceport and operates from Cornwall Airport Newquay, providing infrastructure and expertise for organisations developing space and aerospace technologies.