Dream Chaser

Dream Chaser is a reusable Space Shuttle-like spaceplane being developed by Sierra Nevada Corporation in partnership with NASA, European Space Agency, and Canadian Space Agency. The vehicle is designed to carry crew and cargo to low-Earth orbit, with the ability to return to Earth and land like a conventional aircraft. The development of Dream Chaser is supported by NASA's Commercial Crew Program and Space Technology Mission Directorate, with contributions from University of Colorado Boulder, University of Michigan, and Massachusetts Institute of Technology. The project has also received funding from Google, Microsoft, and Boeing.

Introduction

The concept of Dream Chaser was first proposed in the early 2000s by Jim Voss, a former NASA astronaut, and John Curry, a veteran space engineer. The initial design was influenced by the HL-20 Personnel Launch System, a spaceplane concept developed by NASA Langley Research Center in the 1980s. Dream Chaser is designed to be a versatile vehicle, capable of carrying out a variety of missions, including International Space Station resupply, satellite deployment, and space tourism. The vehicle's development has involved collaboration with numerous organizations, including Lockheed Martin, Northrop Grumman, and United Launch Alliance. The project has also received support from NASA's Johnson Space Center, NASA's Kennedy Space Center, and European Astronaut Centre.

Design_and_Development

The design of Dream Chaser is based on a lifting body configuration, with a fuselage made of aluminum and titanium alloys. The vehicle is equipped with a hybrid rocket motor, developed by Sierra Nevada Corporation in partnership with Orbital Sciences Corporation. The motor uses a combination of solid fuel and liquid oxidizer to produce a high-specific-impulse thrust. Dream Chaser's avionics system is based on a fly-by-wire architecture, with a triple-redundant flight control system developed by Honeywell International and Rockwell Collins. The vehicle's thermal protection system is designed to withstand the extreme temperatures generated during re-entry, and is based on a combination of ceramic tiles and ablative materials developed by NASA's Ames Research Center and University of California, Los Angeles.

Spaceflight_Capabilities

Dream Chaser is designed to be a highly capable spaceflight vehicle, with the ability to carry out a variety of missions in low-Earth orbit. The vehicle is equipped with a payload bay that can accommodate a wide range of cargo, including satellites, space telescopes, and spacecraft components. Dream Chaser's propulsion system is based on a combination of rocket engines and ion thrusters, developed by Aerojet Rocketdyne and NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory. The vehicle's navigation system is based on a combination of GPS, inertial measurement units, and star trackers, developed by Northrop Grumman and Ball Aerospace & Technologies. Dream Chaser has also been designed to be compatible with a variety of launch vehicles, including Atlas V, Delta IV, and Falcon 9, developed by United Launch Alliance and SpaceX.

Missions_and_Operations

Dream Chaser is expected to carry out a variety of missions in the coming years, including International Space Station resupply and satellite deployment. The vehicle's first mission is scheduled to launch in the mid-2020s, with a crewed flight to the International Space Station. Dream Chaser will also be used to support a variety of scientific research missions, including astronomy, Earth science, and space weather studies. The vehicle's operations will be supported by a team of mission controllers and flight engineers from NASA's Johnson Space Center, European Space Agency, and Canadian Space Agency. Dream Chaser has also been selected to participate in NASA's Commercial Resupply Services program, along with SpaceX and Northrop Grumman Innovation Systems.

Technical_Specifications

Dream Chaser's technical specifications include a length of 29.5 feet (9 meters), a wingspan of 22.9 feet (7 meters), and a height of 12.6 feet (3.8 meters). The vehicle has a mass of approximately 19,800 pounds (9,000 kilograms), and is equipped with a payload capacity of up to 12,000 pounds (5,400 kilograms). Dream Chaser's propulsion system is based on a combination of hybrid rocket motors and ion thrusters, with a specific impulse of up to 300 seconds. The vehicle's thermal protection system is designed to withstand temperatures of up to 3,000 degrees Fahrenheit (1,649 degrees Celsius), and is based on a combination of ceramic tiles and ablative materials. Dream Chaser has been designed to be compatible with a variety of launch vehicles, including Atlas V, Delta IV, and Falcon 9, and has a launch window of up to 30 minutes. Category:Spaceplanes