Colorado-based space company Sierra Space recently showcased its Dream Chaser spaceplane along with its cargo module at NASA's Neil Armstrong Test Facility in Sandusky, Ohio. The spacecraft, set to make its debut visit to the International Space Station later this year, boasts a design reminiscent of NASA's iconic Space Shuttle, albeit with a modern touch featuring rounded edges and sleek, aerodynamic wings straight out of a "Star Wars" movie.
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| Image by Kevork Djansezian/Getty Images |
Sierra Space unveils a futuristic spaceship reminiscent of 'Star Wars'
Named "Tenacity," the vehicle towers at 55 feet tall atop its cargo module. It's engineered to launch vertically atop the United Launch Alliance's Vulcan Centaur rocket, the same rocket that successfully carried Astrobotic's lunar lander into orbit earlier this year.
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Following its mission, "Tenacity" will undergo a blistering reentry through Earth's atmosphere. However, it won't rely on parachutes or ocean landings for its return. Instead, it will gracefully glide through the air, utilizing its wings to ensure the safe return of cargo and, eventually, crew members.
The Challenge of Spaceplanes
If everything unfolds as planned, Tenacity will embark on its inaugural journey to the ISS without any crew on board, marking a demonstration mission slated for the first half of this year.
Before this milestone, both the spacecraft and its cargo module will undergo rigorous testing at the facility to ensure their resilience to the harsh conditions of outer space.
Sierra Space CEO Tom Vice highlighted the extensive testing process during a recent event, emphasizing the focus on replicating space environments, particularly the vacuum of space, using the thermal vacuum chamber.
NASA's previous collaborations with commercial partners have yielded successful missions, including SpaceX's Crew Dragon spacecraft, which has completed numerous crewed and uncrewed trips to the space station. This competitive landscape underscores Sierra Space's challenge in becoming a key player in ferrying cargo and astronauts to Earth's orbit.
