NASA and Sierra Space are making progress toward the company’s Dream Chaser spacecraft’s maiden flight to the International Space Station. The unmanned cargo spaceplane is scheduled to begin demonstration missions to orbital complexes in 2024 as part of NASA’s commercial resupply services. Credit: Sierra Space
NASA and Sierra Space are testing the Dream Chaser spacecraft at the Neil Armstrong Test Facility, with a focus on environmental simulation for future ISS missions. After testing, the spacecraft will head to Kennedy Space Center for launch in 2024.
NASA and Sierra Space are preparing for the maiden flight of their Dream Chaser spacecraft. international space station. Dream Chaser and its accompanying cargo module “Shooting Star” NASA’s Neil Armstrong Test Facility It will fly in Sandusky, Ohio, for environmental testing, scheduled to begin in mid-December ahead of its first flight scheduled for early 2024.
State-of-the-art testing equipment
The Neil Armstrong Test Facility, part of NASA’s Glenn Research Center in Cleveland, has multiple test facilities including the Space Environment Complex and the Space Propulsion Facility, both of which will be home to Dream Chaser. The complex includes a mechanical vibration facility that exposes test articles to the harsh conditions of launch.
During Armstrong’s stay, the Dream Chaser winged spacecraft will be stacked atop the Shooting Star cargo module on a vibration table, experiencing vibrations similar to those experienced during liftoff or atmospheric re-entry.
NASA and Sierra Space are making progress toward the company’s Dream Chaser spacecraft’s maiden flight to the International Space Station. The unmanned cargo spaceplane is scheduled to begin demonstration missions to orbital complexes in 2024 as part of NASA’s commercial resupply services. Credit: Sierra Space/Shay Saldana
Rigorous space simulation
After vibration testing, Dream Chaser will be moved to the propulsion facility for thermal vacuum testing. Dream Chaser is placed in a vacuum and exposed to low ambient pressure, low background temperature, and simulated dynamic solar heating, simulating the environment the spacecraft will encounter during its mission. This facility is the only facility capable of testing full-scale upper stage rockets and rocket engines under simulated space conditions and conducting high-temperature fires.
After testing at Armstrong, Dream Chaser will be transported to NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida for further launch preparations, and is currently scheduled to launch in the first half of 2024.
Source: scitechdaily.com
