An artist concept of the Dream Chaser® by Sierra Nevada Corp. Image: SNC

Perhaps we won’t be without a local ride to the International Space Station at least if the Sierra Nevada Corporation has anything to say about it.

Enter the Dream Chaser^® Space System.  The Dream Chaser^® is in development offering a commercial solution to crew and cargo transportation to low Earth orbit.  The primary mission is to provide the United States with the capability to transport seven crew and cargo to the ISS and return them home safely.

Some of the features of the Dream Chaser^®:

• Reusable lifting-body spacecraft carries up to seven crew and cargo to and from low Earth orbit Including the transportation of NASA astronauts to and from the International Space Station
• Vehicle design derived from NASA’s HL-20 , which has years of development, analysis, and wind tunnel testing by the Langley Research Center
• Launches vertically on a United Launch Alliance (ULA) Atlas V Launch Vehicle
• Capable of free flight in low Earth orbit and of docking to the International Space Station & other orbital destinations
• Low-g reentry (< 1.5 gs) protects crew & science experiment return samples
• Low-impact horizontal landing on a conventional runway
• Large cross-range with frequent landing opportunities
• Exceptional crew safety features, such as non-toxic propulsion systems
• On-board propulsion system derived from  SNC’s SpaceShipOne & SpaceShipTwo hybrid rocket motor technology
• Designed for simple maintenance and quick turnaround
• Winner of Two NASA Commercial Crew Development Awards, totaling $100 Million
• Space Exploration Systems has successfully completed all Commercial Crew Development Program milestones on time and within budget

The Dream Chaser^® begins high altitude testing next summer – have a look at a press release.

Visit Sierra Nevada Corporation.