Burns Flat, OK – State and local officials gathered Tuesday for a groundbreaking ceremony marking the start of construction on a $7.5 million mission control facility and spaceplane hangar at the Infinity One Oklahoma Spaceport in Burns Flat.

The Oklahoma Department of Aerospace and Aeronautics and the Oklahoma Space Industry Development Authority joined legislators, community leaders and representatives from Dawn Aerospace for the event.

The project will establish a permanent home for Dawn Aerospace's reusable, rocket-powered Aurora spaceplane, which is scheduled to begin operations in Oklahoma in 2027.

Unlike traditional rockets that launch vertically, the Aurora spaceplane takes off and lands on conventional runways, using rocket propulsion to reach extreme altitudes. The technology is designed to provide faster, more affordable access to suborbital space.

The $7.5 million development will include 15,000 square feet of new facilities, consisting of a 5,000-square-foot mission control and operations center and a 10,000-square-foot hangar.

The mission control facility will feature dedicated workspaces for avionics and payload operations, a flight simulation office, conference rooms and additional areas supporting spaceplane operations.

Construction is expected to be completed by fall 2027.

State officials say the investment represents a significant step forward for Oklahoma's growing aerospace industry, particularly in western Oklahoma, where existing aviation infrastructure offers opportunities for emerging space technologies.

The development is also expected to strengthen Burns Flat's position as a hub for commercial aerospace activity, bringing advanced spaceflight operations to the region.

The Infinity One Oklahoma Spaceport project is part of a broader effort to establish Oklahoma as a leader in reusable spaceflight technology and expand the state's role in the commercial space industry.

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