The Dream Chaser Tenacity, an unmanned space plane developed by Sierra Space, is in the final stages of preparation for its inaugural launch at the Kennedy Space Center in Florida. A vehicle specially designed for cargo missions to and from the International Space Station(ISS).
Dream Chaser, the unmanned space plane
The Dream Chaser was transported from the Neil Armstrong Test Center in Sandusky, Ohio, in a climate-controlled container, and arrived at Kennedy Space Center, as reported by NASA. The spaceplane and its Shooting Star cargo module underwent extensive vibration testing to simulate launch and atmospheric re-entry conditions.
It is also the first space vehicle in a planned fleet to arrive at Kennedy Space Center. The initial launch is planned for September, when it lifts off aboard a Vulcan ULA rocket from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station.
On the other hand, the Shooting Star cargo module, which arrived at Kennedy on May 11, is an important component of the Dream Chaser system. According to NASA, this module can carry up to 3,175 kilograms of cargo internally and has three external cargo supports. Designed to be disposed of during re-entry, it offers a disposal capacity of up to 3,856 kilograms of debris per mission, providing an efficient solution for space debris management.
Final launch tests
They are carried out at the Space Systems Processing Facility at Kennedy Space Center. These activities include acoustic and electromagnetic compatibility tests, as well as the completion of the spaceplane’s thermal protection system. Final payload integration is also an essential part of these preparations.
Tom Marshburn, former NASA astronaut and current Sierra Space collaborator, highlighted the relevance of these missions for the scientific and technological community. According to Marshburn, the company seeks to facilitate access to space for universities and companies, allowing researchers to conduct experiments directly in low-Earth orbit. This vision includes the development of a stronger-than-steel inflatable module, adaptable for various types of research.
The Dream Chaser is a partially reusable space plane with a lifting body, measuring 9.14 meters long by 4.57 meters wide. Its winged design allows it to transport cargo to and from the ISS and land on a runway, similar to NASA’s space shuttle.
Installation of the vehicle system
Finally, after the launch, a series of in-orbit demonstrations will be performed to certify the vehicle system for future for future resupply missions. These demonstrations, according to NASA, will include attitude control, translation maneuvers and abort capabilities. Once completed, each of the ISS astronauts will operate a Canadarm2 robotic arm to execute the docking of the spacecraft to an Earth-facing port in an efficient manner.
The spaceplane arrives at Kennedy Space Center. Source: Sierra Space
The spaceplane will remain in the orbiting laboratory for approximately 45 days before returning to Earth. It will then land at the Kennedy Launch and Landing Facility, where the necessary inspections will be performed and the remaining NASA cargo will be offloaded in preparation for its next mission.
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Source: Infobae
Photo: Sierra Space
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