Sierra Space achieves a historic milestone with the completion of its first Dream Chaser space plane.
The company, based in Colorado, recently announced that construction has finished on its inaugural Dream Chaser vehicle, named “Tenacity.” This space plane will soon be transported to NASA’s Neil A. Armstrong Test Facility in Ohio for environmental testing.
In a company statement released on Thursday, Sierra Space CEO Tom Vice expressed the significance of this achievement, saying, “Today, we have reached a momentous milestone in our company’s journey and the future of our industry. This accomplishment is the result of bold dreams and unwavering determination. The Dream Chaser is not just a product, but also a symbol of human spirit, resilience, and the relentless pursuit of the unknown.”
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Sierra Space currently holds a NASA contract to conduct robotic resupply missions to the International Space Station (ISS) using Dream Chaser. Tenacity will be the first of Sierra Space’s space planes to journey to the orbiting lab, and this momentous event could occur as early as April 2024, when the vehicle launches on a test flight to the ISS.
The launch will take place at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center (KSC) in Florida, utilizing United Launch Alliance’s groundbreaking Vulcan Centaur rocket. The mission will conclude with a safe landing at NASA’s iconic Shuttle Landing Facility, which is part of KSC.
The design of Dream Chaser is a perfect blend of artistry and efficiency, coupled with remarkable endurance. Sierra Space emphasizes that the spacecraft must withstand reentry temperatures exceeding 3,000 degrees Fahrenheit (1,650 degrees Celsius) while remaining cool to the touch within minutes of landing, which is a remarkable engineering feat.
In addition, the company highlights that Dream Chaser’s autonomous flight system is built
