Sierra Space is on the verge of realizing a long-anticipated milestone as it unveils the first completed Dream Chaser space plane. The aerospace company, based in Colorado, has named the inaugural member of the Dream Chaser fleet “Tenacity.” This winged vehicle, designed with a space shuttle-like configuration, is set to undergo rigorous testing before commencing its role in ferrying cargo between Earth and the International Space Station (ISS).
The Dream Chaser, a project that has been in development since 2004, has evolved significantly over the years. Originally conceived to transport both passengers and cargo, Sierra Space shifted its focus to building the world’s first commercial runway-capable space plane. Tenacity boasts a robust design capable of withstanding reentry temperatures exceeding 3,000 degrees Fahrenheit, quickly cooling to touch down minutes after landing. Its autonomous flight system is designed for at least 15 space missions, with the capability to reduce reentry acceleration to 1.5 g to safeguard delicate cargo when necessary.
Sierra Space secured funding for the Dream Chaser under a NASA contract, with the eventual goal of offering commercial trips into low orbit, potentially to private space stations. While Sierra Space’s initial vision faced competition from the likes of SpaceX, Boeing, and Northrup Grumman, the company’s strategic shift positions the Dream Chaser as a distinctive player in the aerospace landscape.
Currently housed at Sierra Space’s production facility in Louisville, Colorado, Tenacity will undergo critical environmental testing in the upcoming weeks at NASA’s Neil A. Armstrong Test Facility in Sandusky, Ohio. These tests, including exposure to large thermal vacuum chambers, aim to determine the space-worthiness of the spacecraft.
Upon successfully passing all required tests, the Dream Chaser is slated to be transported to the Kennedy Space Center in Florida, as reported by Space.com. If the timeline unfolds as planned, the spacecraft could embark on its maiden spaceflight, mounted atop the United Launch Alliance Vulcan Centaur rocket, as early as April of the following year. The unveiling of Tenacity marks a significant step toward realizing Sierra Space’s vision of contributing to the future of space exploration and transportation.
