SNC Dream Chaser (Lockheed teams in, flight test sched.)

[Dr Mordrid]

Drop glide tests in summer 2012 first, suborbital later then a full up launch on an Atlas V. Construction on the first bird is underway now.

Reuters....

CAPE CANAVERAL, Florida (Reuters) - A seven-seat space taxi backed by NASA to ferry astronauts to the International Space Station will make a high-altitude test flight next summer, officials said on Tuesday.

Sierra Nevada Corp's "Dream Chaser" space plane, which resembles a miniature space shuttle, is one of four space taxis being developed by private industry with backing from the U.S. government.

For the unmanned test flight, it will be carried into the skies by WhiteKnightTwo, the carrier aircraft for the commercial suborbital passenger ship SpaceShipTwo, backed by Virgin Galactic, a U.S. company owned by Richard Branson's London-based Virgin Group.

The test flight was added after privately held Sierra Nevada got a $25.6-million boost to its existing $80 million contract with NASA.

The test flight will take place from either Edwards Air Force Base in California's Mojave Desert, or from the White Sands Missile Range in New Mexico, Ed Mango, manager of NASA's Commercial Crew Program, said at a community briefing at the Kennedy Space Center in Florida.

With the retirement of the space shuttles this summer, NASA is now dependent on Russia to fly astronauts to the space station, at a cost of more than $50 million per person.

The agency hopes to turn over crew transportation services to one or more commercial firms before the end of 2016, Mango said.

In addition to Sierra Nevada, NASA is funding spaceship development work at Boeing Co, Space Exploration Technologies, and Blue Origin, a start-up firm owned by Amazon founder Jeff Bezos.

"Having only one way to get crew to the station is a limitation," NASA astronaut Mike Fossum, who is currently living aboard the outpost, said during an in-flight interview last week.

The station, a $100 billion project of 16 nations, was finished this year after more than a decade of construction 225 miles above the planet. The outpost, which is about the size of a five-bedroom house, supports a variety of scientific research and technology demonstrations.

Along with helping to develop commercial space taxis, NASA is working on a heavy-lift rocket and capsule to fly astronauts and cargo to asteroids, the moon, Mars and other destinations beyond the space station's orbit.

Drawing heavily on equipment originally built for predecessor programs, including the space shuttle and the canceled Constellation moon exploration initiative, the new rocket, called the Space Launch System or SLS, is scheduled to debut in 2017.

That unmanned test flight would be followed in 2021 by a trial run with astronauts, said Kennedy Space Center director Bob Cabana.

[Dr Mordrid]

http://www.sncorp.com/press_more_info.php?id=467

Sierra Nevada Space Systems Completes Simulator and Avionics Laboratory Milestones for NASA's Commercial Crew Program

Sierra Nevada Corporation's (SNC) Space Systems announces the completion of additional Dream Chaser Space System Milestones under NASA's Commercial Crew Development Phase 2 (CCDev2) Program. SNC is leading a team of industry partners, universities, and NASA Centers to develop a low-cost space system that will provide NASA with the capability to safely transport crew and cargo to and from the International Space Station (ISS). To date, SNC has completed five of thirteen Milestones under the CCDev2 Program, all on time and on budget. The Program is on schedule to culminate in a high-altitude flight test of the Dream Chaser crew vehicle in the summer of 2012.

In July, the Dream Chaser Program completed a CCDev2 Milestone with a demonstration of the Dream Chaser Cockpit Based Simulator. The simulator, which consists of both a physical cockpit layout and integrated simulation hardware and software, assists Dream Chaser engineers in evaluating the vehicle's characteristics during the piloted phases of flight.

The following CCDev2 Milestone was the Dream Chaser Program's Vehicle Avionics Integration Laboratory (VAIL), activated in September. VAIL is a platform for Dream Chaser avionics development, engineering testing, and integration, and will also be used for verification and validation of avionics and software. The lab is linked to the Cockpit Based Simulator hardware and software for integrated system testing.

Jim Voss, Vice President of SNC's Space Exploration Systems said, "The Dream Chaser team, which includes SNC as well as our industry teammates and our NASA partners, has made tremendous progress over the last four months. Our simulator and avionics lab give us the ability to do engineering evaluations of our complex systems. These successful Milestones, completed on time and within budget, reflect the rapid progress possible in the NASA Commercial Crew Program."

The Dream Chaser team is on schedule to achieve all CCDev2 Milestones as well as complete additional tasks to further advance the development of the space system. In addition to the high-altitude flight test, the Dream Chaser Program will conduct a system-level Preliminary Design Review (PDR) before the end of CCDev2. Through the development of the Dream Chaser Space System, SNC is positioned to quickly restore U.S. capability to safely transport humans and cargo to and from the ISS and return them safely to Earth.
>

[Dr Mordrid]

Progress

Feb. 2, 2012

Candrea Thomas
Kennedy Space Center, Fla.
321-867-2468
candrea.k.thomas@nasa.gov

Cassie Kloberdanz
Sierra Nevada Corp.
720-407-3192
media.ssg@sncorp.com

RELEASE: 12-XXX

NASA'S COMMERCIAL CREW PARTNER SIERRA NEVADA DELIVERS FLIGHT TEST VEHICLE STRUCTURE

LOUISVILLE, Colo. -- One of NASA's industry partners, Sierra Nevada Corp. (SNC), recently delivered the primary structure of its first Dream Chaser flight test vehicle to the company's facility in Louisville, Colo., where it will be assembled and integrated with secondary systems. This is one of 12 milestones to be completed under SNC's funded Space Act Agreement (SAA) with NASA's Commercial Crew Program (CCP).

"It's rewarding to see our partner's ideas and concepts come to fruition," said CCP Program Manager Ed Mango. "The company's delivery of its flight structure will allow them to make more strides toward launching NASA astronauts on American vehicles to the International Space Station."

The Dream Chaser flight test vehicle, a full-scale prototype of the company's planned winged spacecraft, will be used to carry out several remaining NASA Commercial Crew Development Round 2 (CCDev2) milestones, including a captive carry flight and the first free flight of the craft.

"SNC is proud to have met its schedule and cost targets in the delivery of our first flight structure as we continue to make preparations for our vehicle's first full-scale flight," said Mark Sirangelo, head of Sierra Nevada Space Systems. "The Dream Chaser Program is making great strides toward developing a safe and cost-effective space system that will provide our country with the capability to safely transport crew and critical cargo to and from the International Space Station."

The all-composite structure was designed by the SNC team and built in conjunction with SNC Dream Chaser team organizations AdamWorks of Centennial, Colo., Applied Composite Technology of Gunnison, Utah, and Scaled Composites of Mojave, Calif.

"Our team now includes more than a dozen heritage space companies and seven NASA centers whose combined strength has continued to allow us to exceed the program's expectations," said Jim Voss, SNC's vice president for Space Exploration. Voss is a former space shuttle astronaut and was a member of the second crew to live aboard the International Space Station.

Dream Chaser's CCDev2 flight tests will be conducted with the assistance of NASA's Dryden Flight Research Center in Edwards, Calif., under a Reimbursable Space Act Agreement (RSAA). During the captive carry test, a Virgin Galactic While Knight 2 carrier aircraft will drop the Dream Chaser flight test vehicle to measure its performance. SNC flight operations will be managed by the program's Director of Flight Operations Steve Lindsey, who joined the Dream Chaser team in 2011. Lindsey is a veteran of five shuttle missions and was chief of NASA's Astronaut Office from 2008 until his retirement from the agency in 2011.

All of NASA's industry partners continue to meet their established milestones in developing commercial crew transportation capabilities that will ferry U.S. astronauts to and from the International Space Station, reducing the amount of time America is without its own system.

[Dr Mordrid]

http://www.nasa.gov/exploration/commercial/crew/sierranevada_milestone.html

Sierra Nevada Delivers Flight Test Vehicle Structure

One of NASA's industry partners, Sierra Nevada Corp. (SNC), recently delivered the primary structure of its first Dream Chaser flight test vehicle to the company's facility in Louisville, Colo., where it will be assembled and integrated with secondary systems. This is one of 12 milestones to be completed under SNC's funded Space Act Agreement (SAA) with NASA's Commercial Crew Program (CCP).

"It's rewarding to see our partner's ideas and concepts come to fruition," said CCP Program Manager Ed Mango. "The company's delivery of its flight structure will allow them to make more strides toward launching NASA astronauts on American vehicles to the International Space Station."

The Dream Chaser flight test vehicle, a full-scale prototype of the company's planned winged spacecraft, will be used to carry out several remaining NASA Commercial Crew Development Round 2 (CCDev2) milestones, including a captive carry flight and the first free flight of the craft.

"SNC is proud to have met its schedule and cost targets in the delivery of our first flight structure as we continue to make preparations for our vehicle's first full-scale flight," said Mark Sirangelo, head of Sierra Nevada Space Systems. "The Dream Chaser Program is making great strides toward developing a safe and cost-effective space system that will provide our country with the capability to safely transport crew and critical cargo to and from the International Space Station."

The all-composite structure was designed by the SNC team and built in conjunction with SNC Dream Chaser team organizations AdamWorks of Centennial, Colo., Applied Composite Technology of Gunnison, Utah, and Scaled Composites of Mojave, Calif.

"Our team now includes more than a dozen heritage space companies and seven NASA centers whose combined strength has continued to allow us to exceed the program's expectations," said Jim Voss, SNC's vice president for Space Exploration. Voss is a former space shuttle astronaut and was a member of the second crew to live aboard the International Space Station.

Dream Chaser's CCDev2 flight tests will be conducted with the assistance of NASA's Dryden Flight Research Center in Edwards, Calif., under a Reimbursable Space Act Agreement (RSAA). During the captive carry test, a Virgin Galactic White Knight 2 carrier aircraft will drop the Dream Chaser flight test vehicle to measure its performance. SNC flight operations will be managed by the program's Director of Flight Operations Steve Lindsey, who joined the Dream Chaser team in 2011. Lindsey is a veteran of five shuttle missions and was chief of NASA's Astronaut Office from 2008 until his retirement from the agency in 2011.

All of NASA’s industry partners continue to meet their established milestones in developing commercial crew transportation capabilities that will ferry U.S. astronauts to and from the International Space Station reducing the amount of time America is without its own system.

Airframe (skin, airfoils, tiles etc. added over next 3 months)


Dream Chaser as it will be drop-tested by VG's WhiteKnightTwo

[Dr Mordrid]

Sierra Nevada Dream Chaser update:

The DC will soon be shipped out to thew Mohave Spaceport in California for fit and captive carry tests with the Virgin Galactic White Knight Two "EVE" mothership. Captive carry tests will happen from April to May 2012. After these tests DC will go home for the fitting of additional hardware.

After the hardware is fit it's out to NASA Dryden at Edwards Air Force Base for drop tests; glides, landings, and flight envelope expansion. Drop tests look to happen in late summer 2012.

Picture dump (lowres vidcaps): (bottom is without rear panels, tiles, nose or winglets)

[Dr Mordrid]

Sierra Nevada News & Press Releases

Sierra Nevada Corporation Completes Wind Tunnel Testing of The Dream Chaser Orbital Crew Vehicle at Texas A&M University

Sparks, NV – April 24, 2012 – Sierra Nevada Corporation (SNC) Space Systems has successfully completed wind tunnel testing of a scale model of the Dream Chaser® orbital crew vehicle in the Oran W. Nicks Low Speed Wind Tunnel at Texas A&M University in College Station, Texas. Aerodynamic data generated from this testing, coupled with data from computer simulations, will define the characteristics of the Dream Chaser® lifting body vehicle during the approach and landing phase of flight. This information will assist engineers in preparing for the Dream Chaser® vehicle’s first free flight test scheduled for the third quarter of this year.

“The Dream Chaser® Program thanks the Texas A&M wind tunnel team for their support of this testing, which produced results that exceeded our expectations. As the only lifting body vehicle currently funded by NASA under the Commercial Crew Development Program, we are thankful for the opportunity to verify our computational data in such an advanced facility. This is an important step in preparing for the vehicle's first free flight,” said Mark Sirangelo, Corporate Vice President of SNC's Space Systems.

"The Department of Aerospace Engineering has been privileged to work with high caliber engineers from Sierra Nevada Corporation Space Systems and to be part of the wind tunnel testing of the scale model of the Dream Chaser®," added Dr. Dimitris Lagoudas, head of the University's Department of Aerospace Engineering.

The Dream Chaser® team is proud to include several Texas A&M graduates. Dr. Merri Sanchez, Senior Director of Space Exploration Systems, and John Curry, Director of Systems Integration, Test, and Operations for the Dream Chaser® both attribute their success in advancing the field of human spaceflight to their experience as students at the University. "Texas A&M provided the foundation for us, as students, to excel in careers in aerospace engineering. We are proud to be working with the University on the Dream Chaser® Program, they are providing critical data that will inform the future of manned spaceflight," said Sanchez and Curry in a joint statement.

For more information on the Dream Chaser® Space System, please visit: http://www.SNCSpace.com

[Dr Mordrid]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=k3ARn-8EfJQ

Daily Camera....

Sierra Nevada's Dream Chaser spacecraft tested at Broomfield airport

Sierra Nevada Corp. today launched initial flight tests for the Dream Chaser, a spacecraft meant to transport crew and supplies to the International Space Station.

The tests took place this morning at Rocky Mountain Metropolitan Airport in Broomfield, according to a news release from the company. Sierra Nevada is a private space technology company, which includes a branch in Louisville. The craft could be seen haning by a tether from a large helicopter.

The Dream Chaser Program is meant is to provide spaceflight capability by transporting up to seven crew members and cargo to and from the International Space Station, according to Sierra Nevada's Web site. The craft would be fully reusable.

Rocky Mountain Metro Airport director Kenny Maenpa said the full-scale flight test was conducted by tethering the Dream Chaser to a heavy-lift helicopter. The test was meant to check the craft's aerodynamic performance, he said.

The test is just one step in the Dream Chaser's development. The airport was chosen for the initial test, because of its nearness to Sierra Nevada's Louisville location, but there will not be further tests at the Rocky Mountain Airport site, Maenpa said."We're pleased and happy to make our land available for the test," he said.

Maenpa said the airport hopes to provide facilities for further commercial spaceflight projects.

"The governor has been supportive of this type of activity and dedicating Colorado as a place to go into the commercial space transport business," he said.

[Dr Mordrid]

Word is that if it passes the un-crewed test flights this summer crewed powered flights using its hybrid rocket engines will soon follow.

http://www.sncorp.com/press_more_info.php?id=494

SIERRA NEVADA CORPORATION'S DREAM CHASER SPACE SYSTEM PASSES PRELIMINARY DESIGN REVIEW

Louisville, Colo. – June 6, 2012 – Sierra Nevada Corporation (SNC) announces the successful completion of its Dream Chaser® Space System's (DCSS) Preliminary Design Review (PDR). This review was the third major system-level review for the DCSS as part of NASA's Commercial Crew Development Round 2 (CCDev2) Program.

NC's PDR included a detailed review of all major elements of its orbital flight program including the Dream Chaser orbital crew vehicle, the Atlas V launch vehicle, and Dream Chaser Mission and Ground Systems. The entire design, architecture and performance of the Dream Chaser Space System was reviewed and thoroughly evaluated by NASA and the DCSS partner companies and determined that the SNC preliminary design for DCSS is complete.

"The successful completion of this full system PDR established that the Dream Chaser has a credible system design which is now approved to proceed towards integrated system testing." said John Curry, Director of Dream Chaser Systems Engineering, Integration, Test, and Operations. John joined SNC after 25 years at NASA where he served as a Flight Director for the Space Shuttle and Space Station Programs, and managed integration and test the for NASA’s Orion and Constellation Programs.

The Program's successful PDR came during the same week when the Dream Chaser vehicle began its flight test program, illustrating SNC's approach of concurrent design and development. On May 29, the Dream Chaser Program completed the successful first flight of Dream Chaser full scale vehicle. The flight met all the pre-established flight test goals and is a significant step towards preparing the vehicle for an autonomous Approach and Landing Test (ALT) scheduled for later this summer.

"As Commercial Crew Program partners meet these critical milestones, we are moving in the right direction in our combined effort to advance commercial capabilities that could eventually transport NASA astronauts,” NASA Commercial Crew Program Manager Ed Mango said.

"We would like to thank our 12 industrial partners, 7 NASA Centers and 3 universities from over 20 states who helped us achieve two major program milestones this week. This is the 17th overall milestone completed by SNC during NASA's CCDev1 & 2 Programs and, with the completion of PDR and the beginning of our vehicle's flight test program, the Dream Chaser Program has now entered the next phase of development. This will lead to the creation of safe and reliable U.S.-built low Earth orbit crew transportation system for our nation," said Mark Sirangelo, Corporate Vice President and head of SNC's Space Systems.

For information about Sierra Nevada Corporation, including images and video of the Dream Chaser Vehicle's Captive Carry Test, visit: http://www.SNCSpace.com

[Dr Mordrid]

Updates -

Glide tests start by end of 2012, culminating in a pad abort test. During the pad test DC will sense a simulated catastrophic failure of the launcher then fire its hybrid rocket engines on the pad and accelerate away at 6+ G's to escape a possible conflagration. After the escape DC will fly a robotic wide turn and land on a nearby conventional runway.

This is an article on how DC's flight simulator was developed -

http://www.winemantech.com/campaign/creating-a-flight-control-simulation-system-for-the-dream-chaser-spacecraft/

[cjolley]

Updates -

culminati g in a pad abprt test. During the pad test DC will sense a simulated catastrophi failur

Hurrying or pain meds?

[Dr Mordrid]

Hurrying or pain meds?

Both, the latter because of a slight pull in my left quad.

Corrected.

[cjolley]

NP that looks like my normal typing.
And I don't think anyone would blame you for the meds right now.

[Dr Mordrid]

Considering I took zero painkillers post-op for 2 weeks+....and then only for a backache.

[Umfriend]

What, not even for 1 day??

[Dr Mordrid]

Nope, none. Period. No narcotice, no non-narcotics either. Not even a Motrin. This due to a massively high pain tolerance I've had all my life. Started my range of motion & strengthening exercises on post-op day 2.