Tag: SNC
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Dream Chaser misses out on CCtCAP – Dragon and CST-100 win through
Just weeks ago, it was widely believed both SpaceX’s Dragon V2 and SNC’s Dream Chaser spacecraft were likely to progress into the Commercial Crew Transportation Capability (CCtCap) phase of NASA’s Commercial Crew Program. On Tuesday, NASA announced Boeing’s CST-100 was the winner of billions of dollars alongside the SpaceX spacecraft. CCtCAP: The three main Commercial Crew…
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CCtCap: NASA won’t abandon Commercial Crew loser
As NASA closes in on the next major milestone of its Commercial Crew Program (CCP), the Agency has noted its desire to continue the “sharing of knowledge” with any partner that loses out on continued NASA funding. The first NASA crew to ride on a US commercial vehicle is expected to occur in December, 2017 –…
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Dream Chaser flies through major CCiCAP challenge
Sierra Nevada Corporation (SNC) is one step closer from allowing a human crew to fly inside the Dream Chaser spacecraft, as the vehicle passed yet another Commercial Crew Integrated Capability (CCiCap) milestone. While Milestone 9 has the rather mundane title of Risk Reduction and Technology Readiness Level (TRL), it provided the baby orbiter with a major review…
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Dream Chaser passes Wind Tunnel tests for CCiCap Milestone
As the US battles to regain its domestic crew launch capability, companies across the nation are making great progress on the vehicles that are in competition to achieve that goal. Monday saw the confirmation Sierra Nevada Corporation (SNC) has passed Milestone 8 in the Commercial Crew Integrated Capability (CCiCap) process, a success that relates to Wind Tunnel…
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NASA to evaluate ISS resupply options through 2024
With the lifespan of the International Space Station (ISS) extended to at least 2024, NASA officials have begun evaluating options for the next phase of Commercial Resupply Services (CRS), allowing for the orbital outpost to be stocked up with supplies and equipment after the current CRS deal with SpaceX’s Dragon and Orbital’s Cygnus spacecraft expires.…
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Dream Chaser’s KSC vision enables 2016 debut
The highly anticipated confirmation that Dream Chaser will be taking up residency at the Kennedy Space Center (KSC) was finally made public this week, albeit with a few welcome surprises. The “baby orbiter” will be processed in the Operations & Checkout (O&C) building, ahead of a “committed” debut launch atop of an Atlas V rocket…
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Dream Chaser flies through another CCiCAP milestone
Sierra Nevada Corporation (SNC) successfully completed another key milestone for their Commercial Crew Integrated Capability (CCiCap) contract with NASA this week. Known as Milestone 7, the Certification Plan Review for the entire Dream Chaser Space System (DCSS) covered the vehicle’s full design certification and outlined how SNC would operate its first crewed flight to the…
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Dream Chaser’s European deal points to multi-role ambitions
The new European allies of Sierra Nevada Corporation’s Dream Chaser have officially announced “cooperative understandings” that not only combine a transatlantic engineering boost for the baby orbiter, but may also result in Dream Chasers hitching rides atop of an Ariane rocket. More importantly, the announcement provided extra details on the vehicle’s future ambitions. Dream Chaser Deal:…
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Dream Chaser receives CCDev-2 green light from NASA
As had been expected, Sierra Nevada Corporation’s Dream Chaser ETA (Engineering Test Article) spacecraft successfully passed the final NASA Commercial Crew Development Round 2 (CCDev-2) milestone requirement, despite her tumble at the end of what was an impressive debut free flight in October. Dream Chaser Progress: One of the three main contenders to regain American independence…
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Dream Chaser ETA review promotes positives despite anomaly
Sierra Nevada Corporation’s Dream Chaser ETA (Engineering Test Article) may have successfully passed the key milestones of her approach-and-landing free-flight test on Saturday, despite taking a tumble on Edwards Air Force Base’s Runway 22L. Prior to the failure to deploy the left landing gear, the ETA enjoyed a flawless debut flight. Dream Chaser ETA Test Day…