While this novel space plane has been dubbed the next Space Shuttle for years, the Dream Chaser of Sierra Space has finally been announced to be a live spacecraft bound for low-Earth orbit.
EDWARDS, CA - MAY 22: The Sierra Nevada Corporation's Space Systems Dream Chaser prototype space-access vehicle at NASA's Dryden Flight Research Center on May 22, 2013 in Edwards, California. The engineering test article will begin testing its flight and runway landing systems at Edwards Air Force Base through summer into fall. The space vehicle is designed to provide crew and cargo transportation services into low-Earth orbit, including to and from the International Space Station.
Sierra Space's Dream Chaser
Tom Vice, the CEO of Sierra Space, explains that they were able to reach a milestone not just for the company but also for the industry. Vice notes that the Dream Chaser is a breakthrough that could redefine how space travel works.
The Dream Chaser vehicle is technically able to host seven astronauts in it. However, the spacecraft, which spans 15 feet in length, has a contract with NASA to offer seven missions for cargo delivery to the International Space Station. This comes under the Commercial Resupply Service 2 (CRS2) contract of the space agency.
The space plane does not just seem like a tiny Space Shuttle; it also flies like one. As it takes off from the United Launch Alliance Atlas V rocket, the Dream Chaser returns to Earth with a gentle landing on a runway, similar to how the Space Shuttle does it.
Tenacity: First Dream Chaser Vehicle Completed
The very first dream chaser, called Tenacity or DC-100, has now seen completion. Like the Dragon Capsule of SpaceX, the novel Dream Chaser will be capable of returning hardware and experiments to Earth from the lab in orbit. With this, the vehicle will soon be shipping to the Neil A. Armstrong Test Facility of NASA for its pre-flight tests. This should be done when the year ends.
After this, the Dream Chaser's first ISS mission will take place. This will likely take place in early 2024.
According to the company, the autonomous flight system of the Dream Chaser is designed to cater to 15 missions in space. Its oxidizer-fuel and propulsion system can also help mitigate environmental operational costs.
Its maiden orbit launch will be atop the second Vulcan Centaur rocket, which is set to debut on December 24 as part of the Peregrine Mission one of Astrobotic to the lunar surface. When the vehicle reaches orbit, the Dream Chaser will be guided autonomously to dock over the ISS and successfully deliver and transport cargo and crew.
Though the vehicle can be reused up to 15 times, a second one is already in the works at the Colorado manufacturing base of Sierra Space.
Crewed Rides
While NASA does not require a crewed version from the company, Sierra Space still plans to transport astronauts on the Dream Chaser. This may be for private clients.
The company has already announced the crewed spaceplane DC-200, which is a variant that has a flexible architecture that may transport both cargo and crew. It will be able to land on any runway across the world that is compatible, similar to a commercial airliner with a narrow body.
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