Dream Chaser proceeding, hits milestones despite uncertain future

Date:
Thu, 13 Nov 2025 16:01:34 +0000

Description:
Dream Chaser, the vehicle that has been likened to a miniature version of NASAs space The post Dream Chaser proceeding, hits milestones despite uncertain future appeared first on NASASpaceFlight.com .

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Dream Chaser, the vehicle that has been likened to a miniature version of NASAs space shuttle, continues to reach major milestones despite its
uncertain future. Sierra Nevada, the company behind the currently uncrewed space plane, is planning for a launch to low Earth orbit in Q4 of 2026.

In response to questions from NASASpaceflight.com, Sierra Space says that everything continues to proceed for the first flight of Tenacity , the companys cargo vehicle designed to launch atop a United Launch Alliance
Vulcan rocket.

We have successfully completed key technical milestones in its development, including the finalization of the electrical system build, and
Electromagnetic Interference (EMI) and Electromagnetic Compatibility (EMC) testing at Kennedy Space Center, the company said.



These tests were completed at the Space Systems Processing Facility (SSPF) at the Kennedy Space Center (KSC). This testing was seen in photos exclusively obtained by NSF. Dream Chaser, along with its Shooting Star cargo module,
seen at KSC ahead of EMI testing in a photo exclusively sent to NSF. (Credit: Sierra Space)

In a press release, the company outlined more of the testing progress of
Dream Chaser communications systems, actively testing the telemetry and distribution commands between the spacecraft and the companys mission control in Louisville, Colorado. This was tested using NASAs Tracking Data and Relay Satellite System, a set of satellites in orbit around the Earth used for low and medium Earth orbit communications.

There have been many questions about the future of Dream Chaser. In 2008, Sierra Nevada Corporation (now Sierra Space) acquired the design and pitched it for NASAs Commercial Crew Development (CCDev) program, securing funding through phases 1 and 2, as well as the Commercial Crew integrated Capability (CCiCap) stage.

Despite these early investments, Dream Chaser was ultimately passed over in 2014 when NASA selected SpaceXs Crew Dragon and Boeings Starliner for crewed missions to the ISS. Sierra Nevada protested the decision with the U.S. Government Accountability Office but lost the appeal. Dream Chaser berthed
aft first to the ISSs U.S. segment. (Credit: Mack Crawford for NSF/L2)

The vehicle was selected as part of NASAs Commercial Resupply Services 2 (CRS 2) contract, which included SpaceXs Cargo Dragon and Northrop Grummans
Cygnus, to resupply the International Space Station (ISS). Sierra Space were given seven flights to the ISS, with the first scheduled for 2021 and later postponed multiple times.

However, questions remained with crewed flights to the ISS set to end in 2030 followed shortly thereafter by the deorbiting of what will then be a 30+ year old station.

Following a joint evaluation, NASA and Sierra Space mutually agreed to amend the CRS-2 contract removing the requirement of seven guaranteed flights, as well as changing Tenacity s first flight to a free-flying orbital test away from the station.

When asked by NSF about plans for the space vehicle beyond supplying the ISS, the company stated it is looking into other options. Dream Chaser undergoes testing at NASA Glenn. Credit: Max Evans for NSF See Also Dream Chaser Forum L2 Dream Chaser Click here to Join L2

We are in active discussions with many stakeholders about the potential usage of the vehicle as a national asset and beyond, the company said. The contract modification allows us to explore the spaceplanes unique capabilities to meet the needs of diverse mission profiles, including emerging and existential threats and national security priorities that align with our acceleration
into the Defense Tech market.

The first flight will see the vehicle return for a landing on a runway at the Vandenberg Space Force Base in California, a variation of the originally discussed landings at the Launch and Landing Facility (LLF), formerly the Shuttle Landing Facility, at KSC.

Despite that, much of the ground testing has been going on at the LLF, including tow testing. This saw a Freightliner Cascadia truck tow Tenacity at high speeds to simulate critical dynamics and validating autonomous navigational parameters during runway landing operations, Sierra Space noted in its press release.

The teams also simulated safing the vehicle as they would after a landing and removing time-sensitive payloads. Dream Chaser seen during tow testing at the Launch and Landing Facility at NASAs Kennedy Space Center. (Credit: Sierra Space)

Despite reported issues with propulsion systems on the vehicle, Sierra Space tells NSF they have full trust in their thrusters.

Sierra Spaces innovative Tri-mode thrusters have completed an extensive qualification and acceptance test program at our Badger Propulsion Test Facility, located in North Freedom, Wisconsin, Sierra Space said. In
addition, our integrated propulsion system has passed stringent cleanliness, proof pressure, and non-destructive testing requirements. Our final system check-out will include an on-vehicle integrated hot fire test.

A second Dream Chaser vehicle, Reverence , was seen being built when NSF was granted access to the companys facilities in 2023. The company now says its future is questionable. A look at the shell of what will be Sierra Spaces second Dream Chaser vehicle, Reverence, in 2023. (Credit: Trevor Sesnic for NSF)

Dream Chaser Reverence production is on hold as our team focuses on Dream Chaser Tenacitys first mission and test flow would depend on any future customer requirements, Sierra Space said.

Still remaining for Tenacity will be a hot-fire test, integrated hardware/software testing, as well as its final round of acoustic testing,
the latter of which is scheduled for December 2025.

The team feels they are prepared for the updated free-flight and are
confident in their teams and vehicle.

Our test flight control team has been exercising all phases of the Dream Chaser mission for a few years, including the free-flight portions, Sierra Space said. With the change in mission profile, we are refining our flight plan and updating our simulation plans to be consistent. With our extensive simulation exercises there are very few changes necessary. We can simulate without the rendezvous and proximity operations (RPO) phase.

( Lead image: Dream Chaser is prepared for its Electromagnetic Interference testing at NASAs Kennedy Space Center in a photo sent exclusively to NASAspaceflight.com. (Credit: Sierra Space)







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Link to news story: https://www.nasaspaceflight.com/2025/11/dream-chaser-milestones-future/


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