Posts: 52639 From: Houston, TX Registered: Nov 1999
posted 05-06-2022 05:56 PM
Sierra Space video
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.
mode1charlie Member
Posts: 1464 From: Honolulu, HI Registered: Sep 2010
posted 05-06-2022 10:29 PM
It's an impressive vehicle, and I've always been pulling for Sierra Space to be one of the vehicles used for crew access to LEO.
I hope that with several successful cargo launches, some entity will decide to fund, and become an anchor customer for, a crewed version in the future.
Robert Pearlman Editor
Posts: 52639 From: Houston, TX Registered: Nov 1999
posted 08-30-2022 04:41 PM
Sierra Space is building a second Dream Chaser spacecraft (via Twitter):
And then there were two...
Headshot Member
Posts: 1310 From: Vancouver, WA, USA Registered: Feb 2012
posted 08-30-2022 06:02 PM
quote:Originally posted by mode1charlie: I hope that with several successful cargo launches, some entity will decide to fund, and become an anchor customer for, a crewed version in the future.
I heartily agree with these sentiments.
perineau Member
Posts: 407 From: FRANCE Registered: Jul 2007
posted 08-31-2022 12:51 AM
I agree — it's a far more modren approach to LEO transportation than the 1960s-like systems of Soyuz, SpaceX and Boeing capsules.
Robert Pearlman Editor
Posts: 52639 From: Houston, TX Registered: Nov 1999
posted 08-31-2022 08:25 AM
I can see and in some part agree with the appeal of Dream Chaser, but it's a myth to suggest it is any more modern than capsule-based spacecraft.
The Dream Chaser is directly based on NASA's HL-20 lifting body, which itself was reverse engineered from Russia's BOR-4 unpiloted orbital rocket plane of the 1980s. But the lifting body concept was developed in parallel with capsules, with the M2-F1 first flying in 1962 and the HL-10 in 1966 (for example).
The shape of a spacecraft or the means of which it lands has nothing to do with being modern. Each approach offers advantages and disadvantages and so having both in your fleet allows options.
perineau Member
Posts: 407 From: FRANCE Registered: Jul 2007
posted 08-31-2022 08:56 AM
Fair enough — I wonder though, which solution for re-entry the astronauts or cosmonauts would prefer!
oly Member
Posts: 1476 From: Perth, Western Australia Registered: Apr 2015
posted 09-01-2022 04:22 AM
I feel that an emergency reentry similar to the Gemini VIII experience favors the capsule design over the space glider. The odds of finding an ocean versus finding a suitable landing facility are much greater.
SpaceAholic Member
Posts: 5363 From: Sierra Vista, Arizona Registered: Nov 1999
posted 09-01-2022 07:32 AM
Adding a whole aircraft parachute rescue system might advantage Dream Chaser in that regard.
oly Member
Posts: 1476 From: Perth, Western Australia Registered: Apr 2015
posted 09-01-2022 08:15 AM
Weight?
SpaceAholic Member
Posts: 5363 From: Sierra Vista, Arizona Registered: Nov 1999
posted 09-01-2022 08:20 AM
Always tradeoffs.
Lou Chinal Member
Posts: 1390 From: Staten Island, NY Registered: Jun 2007
posted 09-12-2022 02:20 PM
Let's stop arguing and start flying. The world should have both options.
Robert Pearlman Editor
Posts: 52639 From: Houston, TX Registered: Nov 1999
posted 09-08-2023 10:36 PM
Sierra Space video
Learn how the world's only commercial spaceplane flies from launch to landing for its upcoming NASA CRS-2 [Commercial Resupply Services-2] mission to resupply the International Space Station. With its unique design, Dream Chaser incurs a 1.5g re-entry before landing at NASA's Shuttle Landing Facility [today, Space Florida's Launch and Landing Facility] at Kennedy Space Center, making critical cargo accessible faster.
perineau Member
Posts: 407 From: FRANCE Registered: Jul 2007
posted 09-11-2023 03:26 AM
The parachute argument has its merits, but remember, the parachutes have to work!
Robert Pearlman Editor
Posts: 52639 From: Houston, TX Registered: Nov 1999
posted 02-02-2024 09:29 AM
From NASA Glenn Research Center (via X) and Sierra Space:
We're putting the Sierra Space Dream Chaser spaceplane and its Shooting Star cargo module through the paces at NASA's Neil Armstrong Test Facility.
First stop, the world's most powerful spacecraft shaker system in our Mechanical Vibration Facility. We exposed Dream Chaser and Shooting Star to the vibrations they'll experience during launch and reentry to Earth's atmosphere.
Next, we'll move the spaceplane to our In-Space Propulsion Facility. In this huge, in-ground vacuum chamber, we'll simulate the space environment Dream Chaser will encounter on its mission — including low ambient pressures, low-background temperatures, and dynamic solar heating.
This testing marks progress toward Dream Chaser's first uncrewed demonstration flight to the International Space Station later this year as part of NASA's Commercial Resupply Program.
Robert Pearlman Editor
Posts: 52639 From: Houston, TX Registered: Nov 1999
posted 02-13-2024 09:07 PM
Sierra Space video
Dream Chaser's journey has been meticulously documented over the last few years to create a time-lapse consisting of over 1 million still images. Our team is proud to share this journey as we prepare for launch this year.
Now, as part of NASA's goal of sending supplies to the International Space Station aboard a reusable spacecraft that can reenter the atmosphere and land safely without having to plunge into the ocean, such a new spaceplane is expected to launch itself into the spotlight this year.
Designed and built by Sierra Space at the company's headquarters in Louisville, Colorado, the first Dream Chaser spaceplane – called Tenacity – has undergone rigorous environmental testing at NASA's Neil Armstrong Test Facility in Ohio since November.
Robert Pearlman Editor
Posts: 52639 From: Houston, TX Registered: Nov 1999
posted 03-15-2024 11:44 AM
From Sierra Space (via X):
Dream Chaser has arrived at NASA's Armstrong In-Space Propulsion facility in Ohio for thermal vacuum testing. This will be its last testing phase in Ohio before it makes its way to Kennedy Space Center in Florida.
SkyMan1958 Member
Posts: 1380 From: CA. Registered: Jan 2011
posted 03-15-2024 01:38 PM
I notice from the other thread on the Dream Chaser that Sierra Space has trademarked the name Tenacity. Given that it is common for new ships to pick up the name of retired old ships this seems to me to be an outrageous trespass against the rule of naming ships.
For example, look at the opening credits of Star Trek "Enterprise". You'll see a progression of ships, first nautical then space related, that have the name of Enterprise. The USN had a corvette in WWII named USS Tenacity.
I suspect this trademark would not stand up in court if some other entity wanted to name a ship Tenacity and was willing to fight about it.
Robert Pearlman Editor
Posts: 52639 From: Houston, TX Registered: Nov 1999
posted 03-15-2024 02:01 PM
This is not unprecedented.
NASA filed a trademark for Orion (which is, incidentally, how this site learned of the name before anyone else and broke the news of the spacecraft's name) in 2006. The space agency did the same with Ares.
NASA let each trademark expire in 2009.
According to NASA, it filed the trademarks to make sure there wasn't someone else already using the names that would then take legal action. Sierra Space may be doing that, as well as protecting its ability to market the ship and its related products (toys, shirts, models, etc.).
Robert Pearlman Editor
Posts: 52639 From: Houston, TX Registered: Nov 1999
posted 06-26-2024 09:40 AM
Dream Chaser will no longer be flying on the second flight of ULA's Vulcan rocket. Per ULA CEO Tory Bruno:
We have been informed by Sierra Space that they feel they have significant risk towards making the flight date.
We are working with Sierra Space to put the Dream Chaser back onto the manifest when they are ready to go. I don't have a date for you yet because we're still working on that together as a team.
posted 05-06-2022 05:56 PM
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