A New Space Plane by Sierra Nevada is Already Set to Fly for the First Time! What to Expect?
It seems that we are entering a new era in spaceflight. The new solution designed by Sierra Nevada is going to be launched in 2022. Why is it so special? Find out here!
In this article, our wish is to deliver pretty detailed info regarding the launch plans for Sierra Nevada’s new cargo spacecraft. You will go deeper into the following aspects:
· Who will supervise the launch and where it is going to take place;
· The dates of launches and landings of the spacecraft;
· Why Sierra Nevada is planning to build their orbital space platform.
Experience the rising interest due to the above-mentioned? So, keep reading the article!
The world aerospace and national security giant, Sierra Nevada Corporation, has signed a contract called a Use Agreement for Landing Facility and Space Florida’s Launch with the goal to place the Dream Chaser spacecraft to assist the Commercial Resupply Services-2 by NASA.
The Sierra Nevada's Dream Chaser is going to support the International Space Station in 2022.
According to the official press release published on the manufacturer's website, the innovative space solution designed and supervised by Sierra Nevada will perform launches and landings in Florida for NASA in the first quarter of 2022.
The project called the Dream Chaser is a robotic spacecraft with no crew on board; it is going to be launched with the help of a United Launch Alliance rocket from Kennedy Space Center. The goal of this mission is to perform flights to the International Space Station.
The CEO of Sierra Nevada Corporation, Fatih Ozmen states that this is a grandiose chance not only for the Dream Chaser but for the prosperity of space travel in general. They consider a historic breakthrough to get a commercial plane back from the International Space Station to a landing for the first time since the space shuttle program by NASA finished a decade ago.
Details on the Dream Chaser Launch and Landing
The spacecraft will return with landing on the landing strip of the space center. Previously, the strip was used for landings of space shuttles. The Dream Chaser will return as soon as it brings the cargo to the International Space Station.
The above-mentioned info is not a prediction but a fact revealed during a press conference (occurred right on the landing strip) on May 11, 2021, by an executive president and a former astronaut Janet Kavandi.
She announced that the first among all the future Dream Chaser spacecraft models is being prepared by the engineering team for delivery to Kennedy Space Center in spring 2022.
Sierra Nevada possesses the agreement with NASA to execute up to 6 cargo missions with Dream Chaser (with no crew) back and forth the orbiting lab. By the way, the Dream Chaser is truly compact and has about nine meters long (compared to all the previous space shuttle orbiters with thirty-seven meters long).
All the 6 cargo missions will be performed aboard United Launch Alliance Vulcan Centaur rockets from the Space Force Station in Florida and landed at the Launch and Landing Facility located in the neighborhood.
After the press conference, the management of Sierra Nevada together with the engineering team visited Kennedy Space Center and the Cape Canaveral Space Force Station located nearby on May 13. The goal was to find out the relevant edifice where engineers will be able to service the Dream Chaser solution in between all the planned launches.
Initially, the manufacturer will consider all the existing objects in state ownership, however, they will think about the opportunity to design something themselves if required.
The manufacturer will also hire around thirty extra engineering employees in Florida to handle the Dream Chaser as well as other must-have engineering issues.
By the way, Sierra Nevada firstly started designing the Dream Chaser as a spacecraft with the opportunity to have the crew on board, with the target to win a reputable NASA agreement to deliver astronauts from and to the station.
Though NASA has decided on choosing SpaceX to execute this strategy, Sierra Nevada has not neglected the idea to design a crewed spacecraft (we will see it in 2023). Sierra Space has revealed their plans regarding the reusable Dream Chaser solution: they are going to implement it like a space taxi that will be able to land in an airport of any size worldwide and capable of delivering service for a Boeing 737 aircraft.
Sierra Nevada Builds the Orbital Space System
In recent years, all the glory in space travel innovations was given to SpaceX, however, Sierra Nevada has won the title of being one of the most powerful space businesses to compete with NASA.
Sierra Nevada plans to further focus on developing space transportation and other types of earth orbit infrastructure because that gives wonderful opportunities for commercialization.
According to the official press release, the manufacturer envisions dynamic low-Earth orbit platforms with a powerful fleet of dozens of Dream Chaser spacecraft and a commercial space station. Due to such a solution, people will be able to travel to the moon and even Mars. Moreover, Sierra Nevada will deliver extremely important infrastructure like propulsion, power generation, and environmental platforms.
Regarding the orbital space system, recently, the manufacturer represented the commercial space station. This will be a flying, integrated, prototype that will soon be tested at the Kennedy Space Center in Florida.
The station will be empowered with inflatable LIFE surroundings that the manufacturer has created specifically for long-duration trips in space. The orbital space system is supposed to compete for the next stage of NASA funding depicted in the Commercial LEO Destinations project.
Sierra Nevada believes that their solution, which launches vehicles to a special location (equipped with inflatable modules) where crewed/uncrewed vehicles deliver passengers/cargo safely both ways to Earth, will create a sensation in 2022. So, we will monitor the company to get the true proof of their strong announcements.
