2nd February 2013

Lockheed Martin partners with Sierra Nevada on its Dream Chaser space plane

The next generation of space shuttle has moved a step closer, with Lockheed Martin appointed to certify and manufacture the Dream Chaser.

The Dream Chaser is a space plane being developed by Sierra Nevada Corporation (SNC) Space Systems. Intended to carry up to seven astronauts, it will provide low-cost, commercial transportation services to and from low Earth orbit, including the International Space Station (ISS). This vehicle would launch vertically on an Atlas V rocket and land horizontally on conventional runways. It is designed for simple maintenance and quick turnaround.

Sierra Nevada this week announced that Lockheed Martin would be joining its Dream Chaser team. Lockheed Martin will be an exclusive partner to SNC on NASA's Certification Products Contract and was chosen from multiple bids. It will build the composite structure at NASA's Michoud Assembly Facility in New Orleans, under the $212m Space Act Agreement. This is part of a multiphase space technology program, funded by the U.S. government and administered by NASA.

SNC has already performed numerous tests on models and components. Later this month, an engineering prototype of the Dream Chaser will be shipped to NASA's Dryden Flight Research Center, to begin unmanned flight tests. The vehicle will be dropped from 2.3 miles (3.6 km) and attempt a runway landing at Edwards Air Force Base, California. Similar tests were performed on NASA's space shuttle Enterprise in 1977, at the same location. The Dream Chaser is designed as a smaller, lighter and safer successor to the shuttle. If all goes according to plan, more extensive tests will follow in 2014, with trips to low-Earth orbit which include a pilot on board. Lockheed Martin will build this more advanced vehicle, as part of the new partnership just announced by Sierra Nevada. It is hoped that commercial operation can begin by 2017 – ending America's current dependence on Russian Soyuz spacecraft to provide an orbital taxi service.

Mark Sirangelo, head of SNC's Space Systems: "The SNC team is thrilled that Lockheed Martin will be joining our expanding world-class team of partner organizations also working to certify the Dream Chaser Space System for crewed flights to the International Space Station for NASA. The CPC contract offers the Dream Chaser team the opportunity for a more robust technical interchange with NASA as we work to develop a safe, reliable orbital crew transportation system. This contract capitalizes on SNC's success working with NASA's Commercial Crew Program, as well as Lockheed Martin's expertise in developing and certifying Orion's beyond low Earth orbit human spaceflight hardware as part of NASA's Exploration Program. Our team will work towards the common goal of certifying the Dream Chaser to provide the next generation human transportation system."

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