Long ago, in a galaxy pretty nearby, a starship matched to those iconic of StarWars is set to leave a mark on the cosmic ordering. The Dream Chaser, which was designed by Sierra Space, is one such space plane, and it really does look like something out of a George Lucas fever dream. Seeing it in action, however, is pretty darn cool. Sporting wings that retract and a Space Shuttle-shaped fuselage, it looks like something from science fiction, but it’s solidly grounded in reality.
The Dream Chaser: A New Hope for Space Travel
The Dream Chaser’s design is a nod to the past and a leap into the future. Its space shuttle heritage is evident, but its capabilities are firmly rooted in the next generation of space exploration. Unlike the shuttles of old, the Dream Chaser promises a smoother return journey to Earth, capable of gliding back through the atmosphere to land on any runway at least 10,000 feet in length.
Preparing for Launch
The journey to this point has been almost as epic as a StarWars trilogy. After nearly two decades of development and rigorous environmental testing at the Neil Armstrong Test Facility in Ohio, the Dream Chaser has arrived at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center. Here, it will undergo a series of tests before being mated with the United Launch Alliance’s Vulcan rocket, which will propel it into space.
Mission Objectives: Cargo and Beyond
Still, even if the Dream Chaser’s first flight is dedicated more to the testing of its cargo, that’s not the end of the vision. Sierra Space is focused on the company’s prospects in space that it wants to become the carrier for astronauts beyond Earth orbit. The Dream Chaser has signed an agreement with NASA to conduct seven resupply missions to ISS and provide sustainable solution instead of SpaceX’s Dragon cargo vehicle.
The Force Is Strong with This One” StarWars “
The Dream Chaser is not just the vehicle that will fly to space; it is the manifestation of people’s desire to continue to strive and discover. With its first mission planned for September, one can hardly refrain from the excitement and enthusiasm regarding such a pioneering venture.
Thus, the Dream Chaser’s next launch represents not just a victory for Sierra Space or NASA, but for all those of us who gaze at the night sky and yearn. It flies into space with our best aspirations, our sweetest dreams and the general reverence for a story that would begin with A very long time ago, in a system light years away…
Tune in for this spacecraft’s epic ride as it is shaping up to become a ride worth writing in the star diaries.
