“Oh, It’s a Possibility I Might Be Flying, It’s a Possibility You Could Be a Passenger as Well.” — Sierra Space
ISS Star Fighter
Sierra Space’s Dream Chaser space plane, with its retractable wings and sleek Space Shuttle-like fuselage, looks like something straight out of a “Star Wars” movie.
It might sound implausible, but this spacecraft is nearly ready for action. The intriguing space plane arrived at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center last week, preparing for its maiden voyage to the International Space Station (ISS) in September. This follows rigorous environmental testing at the Neil Armstrong Test Facility in Ohio.
While the first launch will test its cargo capabilities, Sierra Space is already planning for human astronaut missions. “Oh, it’s a possibility I might be flying, it’s a possibility you could be a passenger as well,” said retired NASA astronaut and Sierra Space chief medical officer Tom Marshburn to NBC 6 South Florida.
Space Glider
Before Tenacity, the first in the Dream Chaser fleet, embarks on its mission, Sierra Space still has work to do. At the Kennedy Space Center, the spacecraft will undergo various tests and be attached to the launcher of the United Launch Alliance’s Vulcan rocket, which will send it into space.
Dream Chaser is contracted with NASA to fly seven cargo missions to the ISS. It offers a renewable alternative to SpaceX’s Dragon cargo shuttle, gliding back to land on any runway at least 10,000 feet long, rather than relying on giant parachutes for descent.
This is the first private spaceplane ever built, continuing the legacy of US and Soviet spaceplanes. The spacecraft is still being fitted with heat tiles for reentry protection and needs to be attached to its expendable cargo module, dubbed “Shooting Star.”
As Ars Technica reports, it’s unclear how long this hands-on work will take and whether Sierra Space will meet its ambitious September deadline. But the excitement for its launch is palpable.