Dream Chaser, crewed suborbital and orbital lifting-body spaceplane, Sierra Nevada Corporation, Sparks, Nevada, USA


SNC's Dream Chaser First Free-Flight Approach-and-Landing Test

Published on Oct 28, 2013

On October, 26, 2013 Sierra Nevada Corporation (SNC) performed its first free-flight approach-and-landing test of the Dream Chaser® spacecraft. The vehicle successfully released from its carrier aircraft, an Erickson Air-Crane helicopter, as planned at approximately 11:10 a.m. Pacific Standard Time. Following release, the Dream Chaser spacecraft automated flight control system gently steered the vehicle to its intended glide slope. The vehicle adhered to the design flight trajectory throughout the flight profile. Less than a minute later, Dream Chaser smoothly flared and touched down on Edwards Air Force Base's Runway 22L right on centerline. While there was an anomaly with the left landing gear deployment, the high-quality flight and telemetry data throughout all phases of the approach-and-landing test will allow SNC teams to continue to refine their spacecraft design. SNC and NASA Dryden are currently reviewing the data. As with any space flight test program, there will be anomalies that we can learn from, allowing us to improve our vehicle and accelerate our rate of progress.
 

Sierra Nevada Corporation's Dream Chaser® Highlight Video

Published on Jan 24, 2014

This video summarizes the development, testing and manufacturing of America's next generation commercial crew vehicle, Sierra Nevada Corporation's Dream Chaser spacecraft! SNC is working with NASA's Commercial Crew Program to develop an innovative, modern, flexible and highly-capable crew transportation system for the 21st Century. The DCSS provides the only reusable, lifting-body human-rated spacecraft with a commercial runway landing capability, anywhere in the world. The DCSS is on the forefront of the commercial human spaceflight industry, offering safe, reliable and cost-effective crew and critical cargo transportation to low-Earth orbit.
 

SNC's Dream Chaser Highlight Video

Published on Apr 17, 2014

This YouTube video is provided courtesy of Sierra Nevada Corporation (SNC) and contains copyrighted material belonging to SNC. This video summarizes the development, testing and manufacturing of America's next generation commercial crew vehicle, SNC's Dream Chaser® spacecraft. SNC is working with NASA's Commercial Crew Program to develop an innovative, modern, flexible and highly-capable crew transportation system for the 21st Century. The Dream Chaser Space System (DCSS) provides the only reusable, lifting-body human-rated spacecraft with a commercial runway landing capability, anywhere in the world. The DCSS is on the forefront of the commercial human spaceflight industry, offering safe, reliable and cost-effective crew and critical cargo transportation to low-Earth orbit.
This video may not be used to imply endorsement by SNC without the prior written consent and release from SNC. Dream Chaser and Sierra Nevada Corporation logos and trademarks may not be copied, imitated or used, without the prior written consent and release from SNC.
 

SNC’s Dream Chaser Crewed Space System Concept of Operations

Published on Jul 8, 2015

SNC’s Dream Chaser® spacecraft is a reusable, multi-mission space utility vehicle capable of crewed and uncrewed transportation to low-Earth orbit destinations, such as the International Space Station. The Dream Chaser spacecraft launches vertically and returns to a gentle, low-g, horizontal runway landing.
The Crewed Dream Chaser Space System has been in development in partnership with NASA’s Commercial Crew Program for over five years, totaling over $360 Million in funding awarded to SNC.
 

SNC's Dream Chaser Cargo System: A Transportation System to Deliver Cargo to the ISS for NASA

Published on Oct 7, 2015

This animated video represents Sierra Nevada Corporation’s (SNC) Dream Chaser Cargo System mission. The Dream Chaser Cargo System is an innovative complete cargo transportation system capable of transporting pressurized and unpressurized cargo to and from low-Earth orbit destinations such as the International Space Station. This system is designed to fulfill NASA’s current Commercial Resupply Services 2 (CRS2) and other fully autonomous missions.
The uncrewed Dream Chaser spacecraft launches inside a standard 5m fairing, transporting pressurized and unpressurized cargo concurrently. Further advantageous capabilities include cargo module disposal, low-g, gentle runway landing return of cargo and sensitive science payloads with immediate access, all attributes that are unique to the reusable, lifting-body Dream Chaser spacecraft.
 

Dream Chaser rolls through tow tests at NASA Armstrong

Published on Aug 29, 2017

Sierra Nevada Corporation (SNC) has been putting its Dream Chaser engineering test vehicle through a series of ground tests at NASA's Armstrong Flight Research Center at Edwards Air Force Base, Calif., in preparation for upcoming captive-carry and free-flight tests later this year.
During this 60-mph tow test vehicle, a pickup truck pulled the Dream Chaser test vehicle on Edward’s runway to validate the performance of the spacecraft's nose skid, brakes, tires and other systems. The company has performed the tests at 10 mph, 20 mph, and 40 mph tests over the last few months to lead up to the 60-mph runway test. Range and taxi tow tests are standard for winged vehicles that touchdown on a runway to prove the overall spacecraft handling post-landing.
 

Dream Chaser spacecraft Captive Carry Flight

Published on Aug 30, 2017

Captive carry fligh test of Sierra Nevada Corporation's Dream Chaser spacecraft at NASA's Armstrong Flight Research Center, on 30 August 2017.
 

Dream Chaser spacecraft completes Captive Carry test

Published on Sep 8, 2017

Our Dream Chaser spacecraft recently completed a Captive Carry test which allowed our engineers to test overall system performance in a flight environment.
 

Dream Chaser completes captive carry test at NASA Armstrong

Published on Sep 25, 2017

Sierra Nevada Corporation’s Dream Chaser completed an important milestone toward orbital flight on Wednesday, Aug. 30, with a successful captive carry test at NASA’s Armstrong Flight Research Center in California, located on Edwards Air Force Base. A helicopter successfully carried a Dream Chaser test article, which has the same specifications as a flight-ready spacecraft, to the same altitude and flight conditions of an upcoming free flight test.

The captive carry is part of a series of tests for a developmental space act agreement SNC has with NASA’s Commercial Crew Program. The data from the tests help SNC validate the aerodynamic properties, flight software and control system performance of the Dream Chaser.

The Dream Chaser is a lifting-body, winged spacecraft that will fly back to Earth in a manner similar to NASA’s space shuttles. The successful captive carry test clears the way for a free flight test of the spacecraft later this year in which the uncrewed Dream Chaser will be released to glide on its own and land.

The test campaign will also help finalize the design for cargo version of the Dream Chaser in preparation for the spacecraft to deliver cargo to the International Space Station under NASA’s Commercial Resupply Services 2 (CRS2) contract beginning in 2019. The cargo Dream Chaser will fly at least six resupply missions to and from the space station by 2024.
 

Dream Chaser free flight test 2017

Published on Nov 13, 2017

Sierra Nevada Corporation's (SNC) Dream Chaser® spacecraft had a successful free-flight test on November 11, 2017 at Edwards Air Force Base, with support of NASA's Armstrong Flight Research Center.
 

SNC’s Dream Chaser achieves successful free flight at NASA Armstrong

Published on Dec 8, 2017

Sierra Nevada Corporation's Dream Chaser® spacecraft underwent a successful free-flight test on November 11, 2017 at NASA’s Armstrong Flight Research Center, Edwards, California. The test verified and validated the performance of the Dream Chaser in the critical final approach and landing phase of flight, meeting expected models for a future return from the International Space Station.

The full-scale Dream Chaser test vehicle was lifted to 12,400 feet altitude by a 234-UT Chinook helicopter, released and flew a pre-planned flight path ending with a successful autonomous landing.
 

Dream Chaser will be launched by Vulcan Centaur rockets

Published on Aug 14, 2019

Sierra Nevada Corporation’s Dream Chaser Spacecraft will be launched by United Launch Alliance’s Vulcan Centaur rockets for its cargo resupply and return services to the International Space Station, starting in 2021.

Credit: Sierra Nevada Corporation/United Launch Alliance
 

Dream Chaser - Tenacity

May 3, 2022

Dream Chaser, Tenacity, has undergone aeroshell and wing deployment system installation. Under NASA’s Commercial Resupply Services 2 (CRS-2) contract, Dream Chaser will provide a minimum of six cargo service missions to and from the International Space Station.
 
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