Sierra Space has initiated the Dream Chaser spacecraft at its assembly facility, unveiling a shuttle-like vehicle that is nearing readiness for its first mission to low Earth orbit.
On May 31, Sierra Space, based in Colorado, announced the successful completion of the first activation of the Dream Chaser spacecraft. During the test, engineers simulated activating the systems of Dream Chaser using electricity generated by solar panels while the spacecraft was in orbit, according to Yahoo.
The Dream Chaser spacecraft resembles a space shuttle. (Photo: Sierra Space)
“This is a significant milestone in the long journey of Dream Chaser,” emphasized Tom Vice, CEO of Sierra Space. “With this important achievement, the Dream Chaser spacecraft is poised to redefine commercial space travel, opening up new opportunities for scientific research, technological advancements, and economic growth in space.”
The Dream Chaser is a spacecraft designed to operate in low Earth orbit, transporting crew and cargo to destinations such as the International Space Station (ISS). The vehicle is designed to carry up to 5,443 kg of cargo. As it cannot launch itself into space, Dream Chaser requires a large rocket, such as ULA’s Vulcan Centaur, to reach low Earth orbit. However, like NASA’s space shuttle, Dream Chaser is capable of re-entry and landing on a runway.
Dream Chaser will be four times shorter than NASA’s shuttle, with a total length of over 9 meters. However, the spacecraft will include a Large Integrated Flexible Environment (LIFE). This expandable habitat can inflate to a diameter of 8.2 meters, equivalent to a three-story building. The soft material of LIFE can deflect small meteoroids and other space debris.
Sierra Space aims to conduct the first flight of Dream Chaser by the end of 2023 from the Kennedy Space Center in Florida. This flight is part of a contract with NASA to deliver cargo to the ISS. The company also plans to launch a crewed mission to its own space station named Orbital Reef, in collaboration with Jeff Bezos’s Blue Origin. They are preparing to transfer the Dream Chaser named Tenacity to NASA’s Neil Armstrong Test Facility in Ohio for pre-flight testing.
