NASA’s Dream Chaser spaceplane, a winged cargo craft similar to the retired shuttle fleet, is facing new delays. The uncrewed vehicle, named Tenacity, has been in development for over 20 years and is contracted to ferry cargo to the International Space Station under NASA’s Commercial Resupply Services program.
Initially set to launch in late 2020, the debut mission has slipped multiple times, with a revised target of 2025. However, senior NASA officials have stopped short of confirming any firm launch window. The lack of mention about Dream Chaser in recent briefings has fueled speculation about delays.
Certification hurdles remain, including “end-to-end” software certification and final approval for the propulsion system. Sierra Space has been conducting hardware-software integration trials, electromagnetic interference tests, and acoustic tests, as well as a runway tow test of landing systems.
One possible solution to the delay is altering the first mission profile, which could involve a flyby instead of direct berthing at the ISS. This would shorten the certification period but require contract modifications. The final decision depends on how quickly Sierra can complete safety reviews and system verifications.
Even with certification complete, Dream Chaser faces competition from the Vulcan Centaur rocket, which is now busy with a US Space Force manifest. Sierra’s longer-term ambitions include a crewed variant, with Reverence, its sister ship, already in early production.
The spacecraft’s Shooting Star cargo module will carry up to 5,443 kg of supplies to the ISS, and if successful, it could be the first US runway lander to visit orbit since shuttle Atlantis retired in 2011.
Source: https://orbitaltoday.com/2025/08/06/grounded-dreams-sierra-spaces-tenacity-spaceplane-delayed-yet-again-whats-going-on