NASA’s Dream Chaser spaceplane, originally slated for launch in 2020, now faces uncertainty due to recent comments from a top agency official. The first flight is expected to carry cargo to the International Space Station (ISS) and return with a runway landing at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center.
According to NASA, Sierra Space, the company behind Dream Chaser, is continuing to work on testing and certification. Bill Spetch, ISS operations integration manager, mentioned the omission of Dream Chaser in July, citing the need for time before the first flight.
Dana Weigel, ISS Program Manager, noted that software certification is among the remaining tasks. She emphasized the complexity of developing a spacecraft, stating it typically takes eight to 10 years.
Sierra Space attributes the delay to the extensive testing campaigns necessary to validate its design. They pointed out unique engineering challenges such as their “green propulsion system and sophisticated thermal protection system.”
Key checklist items before the first flight include electromagnetic interference testing, acoustic testing, and a runway tow test of landing systems. The company plans to ramp up production on the second Dream Chaser after completing Tenacity.
The International Space Station’s retirement is planned for 2030 with a deorbiting by early 2031. Budget cuts proposed in the Trump administration’s fiscal 2026 budget may impact future cargo flights, but details remain unclear.
Source: https://aerospaceamerica.aiaa.org/dream-chasers-long-awaited-first-flight-might-be-delayed-again