The world's first commercial spaceplane, as what it is called by the company and many more, the Sierra Space's Dream Chaser, is now ready for its NASA testing, centering on its maiden orbital flight. It is called a spaceplane for a specific reason, and this is because it does not look like a regular rocket, but follows the design of an airplane with its wings, but meant for space.
For many years, the Dream Chaser had made waves in the world, and it was perceived as one of the game changers in the space industry, soon to be tested in its habitat.
Sierra Space Dream Chaser is Ready for NASA Testing
(Photo : Sierra Space)
Sierra Space has announced that its Dream Chaser spaceplane is now ready for its NASA testing, and this vehicle will now head to the space agency's Neil A. Armstrong Test Facility in Ohio for its environmental testing in the weeks to come.
Today we have arrived at a profound milestone in both our company's journey and our industry's future - one that has been years in the making and is shaped by audacious dreaming and tenacious doing.
Sierra Space CEO Tom Vice
Currently, the Dream Chaser is still at Sierra Space's facility in Colorado, with Tenacity, its name as dubbed by the company, will be under testing for one to three months. NASA is set to perform acoustics, vibration, and temperature tests on the spaceplane.
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Commercial Orbital Spaceplane is Flying Soon
NASA is known for awarding resupply and cargo contracts to the Dream Chaser and once fit for launch, it will soon join SpaceX in its commercial space missions to the International Space Station. The tests would soon determine if the Dream Chaser can handle the rigorous conditions that rockets face during launches, as well as if it is safe for it to approach the ISS.
NASA and Sierra Space's Dream Chaser
The development of Sierra Space's Dream Chaser has been followed for years, and this was because of its massive promises to modern space developments and missions. At one point, it forged a partnership with Spirit AeroSystems to produce cargo modules for the spaceplane, and this will support future missions of the Dream Chaser to the International Space Station.
Moreover, the Dream Chaser was regarded to be a hypersonic spacecraft that could bring significant speeds for the takeoff and landing procedures. It is a spaceplane designed to take off and land on international runways and also features an inflatable habitat on board to accommodate living conditions when flying off-world, regarded as a significant milestone.
With the many promises and highly-regarded features of the Sierra Space's Dream Chaser, it has been closely followed by the industry and aspirants to soon use this spaceplane for various purposes. Sierra Space has announced that it is ready for its orbital maiden flight, featuring the Tenacity spaceplane craft, with NASA heading the tests it needs to pass.
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