Dream Chaser updates

[docm]

Well, well, well.....looks like it's time to start tracking it again....

Flight Global Link....

DATE:20/10/09

SOURCE:Flight International

WhiteKnightTwo could air drop Dream Chaser prototype

By Rob Coppinger

Sierra Nevada Corporation could air drop its Dream Chaser spaceplane prototype using Virgin Galactic's WhiteKnightTwo if it wins funds from NASA's Commercial Crew Development programme.

The Nevada-based space systems manufacturer has submitted a proposal for NASA's crew programme that would see a weight-representative Dream Chaser test article air-dropped for a runway landing. The test would be for the subsonic flight phase aerodynamics and the effectiveness of the control surfaces and some avionic systems.
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He [Sierra Nevada CEO Mark Sirangelo] adds that ULA has conducted detailed studies for Sierra on the viability of launching Dream Chaser on an Atlas V and that the work had gone far enough "for [us] to be confident" of success.

Dream Chaser will use Sierra hybrid rockets in three ways: as a launch abort system, for the de-orbit burn motors and for powering, in part, the descent to a runway. A test firing of this motor technology was conducted in September.
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[access]

Sweet, I love hearing about some of the quieter companies if only planetspace would release some info.

 

[nimbus]

That's great. The more competition, the better.

 

[EarthlingX]

It is supposed to launch on top of Atlas V and land as a plane.

http://www.globalsecurity.org/space/sys ... chaser.htm
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dream_Chaser