Germany's Bundeswehr has commissioned the Bremen-based startup Polaris to create Aurora, a hypersonic space plane within three years. This 28-meter-long vehicle will take off and land on runways while being capable of reaching low-Earth orbit and carrying payloads of up to 1 ton. Polaris, established in 2019 as a spin-off from the German Aerospace Center, leverages decades of research to develop this two-stage craft. The startup has a proven track record, with its earlier Mira prototypes showcasing successful flights using advanced aerospike technology, aiming to break new ground in hypersonic flight dynamics.
"Polaris made history in October last year when it conducted the first-ever flight powered by an aerospike engine. The AS-1 engine was ignited in flight for three seconds."
"The aircraft will serve as a testbed for hypersonic flight and defence research. It could be used as a small satellite carrier if fitted with a non-reusable upper stage."
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