Aerotech News and Review, July 21 2017

Dream Chaser tests ongoing at Armstrong
July 21, 2017 • Volume 31, Issue 12
Photographs courtesy of Sierra Nevada Corporation
Sierra Nevada Corporation’s Dream Chaser spacecraft continued testing at NASA Arm- strong Flight Research Center, Edwards, Calif., July 17.
The craft underwent ground tests designed to check braking performance, and guidance, navigation and control systems.
As part of the test, the Dream Chaser was towed along the runway on its two main landing gear wheels and a nose skid. Once cut free from its tow vehicle, the spacecraft slowed to a stop.
Eric Cain, a Sierra Nevada engineer posted about the July 17 test on the company’s Twitter account.
“I waited at the end of the runway to see Dream Chaser spacecraft braking to a stop. I’m excited to see it stop in this spot on flight day!”
The Dream Chaser will undergo additional tests, including more tow tests and a “captive carry” flight with the spacecraft suspended from a helicopter.
“When that’s done, we’ll move into a series of flight tests, where it will be dropped for approach and landing like the shuttle Enterprise,” said Mark Sirangelo, corporate vice president of Sierra Nevada’s space systems division, in an interview earlier this year.
The flight tests are scheduled for later this year.
Sierra Nevada is developing the Dream Chaser as part of NASA’s Commercial Crew Program and is designed to transport pressurized and unpressurized cargo to and from the International Space Station.
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