Spacecraft's Debut in the Commercial Aviation Sector Delayed Indefinitely
The anticipated launch of the Dream Chaser spaceplane, designed to mimic NASA's Space Shuttle and land on runways after its mission, is now expected to take place between late 2025 and early 2026. The delay is due to a combination of technical issues, certification hurdles, and the certification process for its launch vehicle, the Vulcan Centaur rocket.
The Vulcan Centaur rocket, produced by United Launch Alliance, is still awaiting certification from the U.S. Space Force. This certification has been delayed due to a booster anomaly experienced during its second flight in October 2024. As a result, the Dream Chaser spaceplane's launch date has also been pushed back.
The Dream Chaser spaceplane, named Tenacity, has undergone extensive testing since May 2024, including vibration, temperature endurance, and integrated system tests. However, the project continues to face difficulties in transitioning from testing to operational status. Dana Weigel, the program manager for the ISS, emphasises that there's still a lot more work to be done before the spaceplane is ready to fly to the International Space Station.
The Dream Chaser spaceplane is equipped with heat shield tiles to protect it from the high temperatures of atmospheric reentry and foldable wings that unfurl in flight and generate power through solar arrays. Sierra Space, the company behind the Dream Chaser, is currently working on updating schedules to determine the new launch date for the spaceplane.
The Dream Chaser spaceplane was awarded a Commercial Resupply Services 2 (CRS-2) contract by NASA in 2016, with the commitment to provide at least seven cargo deliveries to the ISS. Despite being the next-generation reincarnation of the Space Shuttle, the Dream Chaser spaceplane may face delays in its launch due to the issues with its software and launch vehicle.
[1] SpaceNews.com, "Dream Chaser launch delayed to late 2025 or early 2026", URL
[2] Arstechnica.com, "Dream Chaser spaceplane delayed again due to Vulcan Centaur rocket certification issues", URL
[3] Space.com, "Dream Chaser spaceplane passes key milestone ahead of first flight", URL
[4] Spaceflightnow.com, "Vulcan Centaur rocket certification delayed by booster anomaly", URL
[5] NASA.gov, "NASA awards commercial resupply services 2 contracts", URL
- The Dream Chaser spaceplane, designed to mimic NASA's Space Shuttle and land on runways after its mission, is now expected to take place between late 2025 and early 2026, due to delays in the certification of its launch vehicle, the Vulcan Centaur rocket.
- The Vulcan Centaur rocket, produced by United Launch Alliance, is still awaiting certification from the U.S. Space Force, but the certification process has been delayed due to a booster anomaly experienced during its second flight in October 2024.
- Dana Weigel, the program manager for the ISS, emphasises that despite the Dream Chaser spaceplane, named Tenacity, having undergone extensive testing since May 2024, there's still a lot more work to be done before it's ready to fly to the International Space Station.
- Sierra Space, the company behind the Dream Chaser, is currently working on updating schedules to determine the new launch date for the spaceplane, which was awarded a Commercial Resupply Services 2 (CRS-2) contract by NASA in 2016, with the commitment to provide at least seven cargo deliveries to the ISS.
