Dream Chaser Seeks To Become Reality

Sierra Nevada's Dream Chaser is one of three programs seeded by NASA for commercial crew transport to Space Station. Now in early testing, this reusable vehicle's aerodynamic shape is a descendant of NASA's X-24A lifting body flown from 1969 to 1971. It took greater form as the NASA Langely Research Center's HL-20. The commercial spacecraft continues to meet NASA development milestones for possible flight.

On Wednesday, January 30, 2013 Sierra Nevada announced it has formed a partnership with Lockheed Martin Corp. to build the spacecraft's body. The Dream Chaser is intended to carry a crew of up to seven astronauts to low Earth orbit. The vehicle launches atop a rocket, but glides to a landing on its return. SNC is pushing to have the vehicle fully operational and ready for space sometime in 2017. PETE SPOTTS AT "THE CHRISTIAN SCIENCE MONITOR" provides more details.

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