The Oklahoma Space Industry Development Authority (OSIDA) has approved a contract to bring the only U.S. operations of DAWN Aerospace, a Netherlands-based company, to the spaceport in Burns Flat.
DAWN plans to launch its Mk-II spaceplane from the site—a high-performance aircraft capable of flying faster and higher than any previous runway-launched vehicle. Though it functions like a rocket, the Mk-II is designed to operate as a certified aircraft. It can take off from a standard 1000-meter sealed runway and fly in shared airspace.
OSIDA board members voted unanimously in favor of the agreement. The decision marks a significant milestone in Oklahoma’s growing commitment to space innovation and research.
DAWN intends to use the Burns Flat facility as its central U.S. location for suborbital flight testing and research. The project is expected to position Oklahoma as a leader in suborbital and microgravity research with potential national security applications.
Board members and OSIDA leadership expressed strong support for the project, viewing it as a major step forward for the state’s aerospace ambitions.