Meet the ‘Dream Chaser,’ the Supersonic Space Craft Taking on Blue Origin and Virgin Galactic
Will the supersonic Dream Chaser soon be competing with Virgin Galactic and Blue Origin in the space-tourism race? That’s the plan—eventually.
Sierra Space is developing the Dream Chaser as the world’s “first and only winged commercial spaceplane.” The aircraft is designed to take off atop a rocket, and then return to Earth on its own wings, landing itself much as the original space shuttle designs.
More from Robb Report
Boeing's Starliner Shuttle Is Finally Making Its First Unmanned Flight to the ISS
SpaceX's Latest Mission to the ISS Is Carrying One of the Most Diverse Crews in History
Inside the First All-Private Space Mission to the International Space Station
The company said it has signed a memorandum of understanding with Spaceport America to use its 12,000-foot runway in southern New Mexico. Sierra said it’s growing the list of compatible sites where the Dream Chaser can land, including the Shuttle Landing Facility at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center as well as airports in Alabama, Japan and Spaceport Cornwall in the UK.
Courtesy Sierra Space
The Dream Chaser is based on a NASA design concept called the HL-20 from around 1990. During a 2013 test, the craft failed to deploy part of its landing gear and skidded across the runway. The company has since focused on a cargo version, which is scheduled to fly seven missions to deliver 12,000 pounds of supplies to the ISS beginning in 2023.
But Sierra said it has always planned a “multi-mission” version that will carry three to seven astronauts. The crewed version would be ready by 2025, according to the company.
Courtesy Sierra Space
The announcement about the partnership with Spaceport America is part of Sierra’s plans to build a global network that would allow “high-value payloads” to be delivered.
“We are creating space-tech hubs within the commercial space ecosystem and adding Spaceport America as a prospective landing site for Dream Chaser to continue to open up affordable access to space for all,” said Tom Vice Sierra Space CEO, in announcing the agreement.
Spaceport America has 6,000 square miles of restricted airspace, a 12,000-foot by 200-foot runway, and vertical launch complexes. Virgin Galactic launched its first Unity22 mission there last year.
Courtesy Sierra Space
Sierra Space also announced plans to open the first commercial human spaceflight center and astronaut training academy. Dr. Janet Kavindi, a veteran NASA astronaut, will lead the new facility at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center.
Kavindi foresees different astronauts being trained at the facility, including career astronauts who will spend months in space and “experiential” astronauts, or private citizens, who want to visit Orbital Reef, which is being designed as the world’s first private space station.
Best of Robb Report
The Chevy C8 Corvette: Everything We Know About the Powerful Mid-Engine Beast
The 15 Best Travel Trailers for Every Kind of Road-Trip Adventure
Sign up for Robb Report's Newsletter. For the latest news, follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.