Sierra Nevada Corporation targets late 2020 for first Dream Chaser resupply mission
Sierra Nevada Corporation (SNC) has announced that NASA has given its Authority to Proceed with the Dream Chaser spacecraft's first cargo mission to the International Space Station (ISS).
In a statement released on Feb. 7 2017, Fatih Ozmen, owner and CEO of SNC stated, "SNC has been successfully completing critical design milestones as approved by NASA, and having a timetable for the first launch is another important step achieved for us. The team has worked so hard to get to this point and we can't wait to fulfill this mission for NASA."
This latest announcement follows a successful free-flight test in January which satisfied yet another NASA milestone. The free-flight proved that the spacecraft would be capable to safely return cargo to Earth utilizing a runway landing.
If it flies, the 2020 launch will be the first of six missions that NASA has contracted with SNC under the Commercial Resupply Services 2 (CRS-2) contract. Those contracts were awarded in January of 2016. SpaceX and Orbital-ATK, who were the only two companies awarded resupply services under the CRS-1 contracts, also saw their agreements with the space agency extended under CRS-2.
(Score: 2) by Snotnose on Sunday February 11 2018, @08:01PM (4 children)
Sierra Nevada makes beer. Not gonna click the link to see what they're sending up, I want to go on thinking ISS is getting a couple tons of beer.
When the dust settled America realized it was saved by a porn star.
(Score: 3, Insightful) by Gaaark on Sunday February 11 2018, @08:30PM (2 children)
I thought they made Leisure Suit Larry?
:)
--- Please remind me if I haven't been civil to you: I'm channeling MDC. ---Gaaark 2.0 ---
(Score: 3, Funny) by pipedwho on Sunday February 11 2018, @08:37PM (1 child)
For split second I'm like... Sierra Nevada, Sierra Nevada, Sierra ... oh that's right Sierra Online.
Bummer, I was hoping for another *Quest to be released.
[NOSTALGIA MODE: ON]Oh how I loved those games.[NOSTALGIA MODE: OFF]
(Score: 2) by Gaaark on Sunday February 11 2018, @09:35PM
Put on that condom!
;)
--- Please remind me if I haven't been civil to you: I'm channeling MDC. ---Gaaark 2.0 ---
(Score: 1) by nitehawk214 on Monday February 12 2018, @12:16AM
I came here to comment that I am toasting them with Hop Bullet.
"Don't you ever miss the days when you used to be nostalgic?" -Loiosh
(Score: 2) by Tara Li on Tuesday February 13 2018, @03:03PM
And some real competition for SpaceX's Dragon capsule. Cargo return is a crucial capability, especially low-g-loading return. Returning to a ground site also makes getting the cargo over to analysis quicker. I really hope this flies (so to speak!)