Posted on: 3:37 pm, March 11, 2014, by David Wood, updated on: 08:30pm, March 11, 2014

HUNTSVILLE, Ala. (WHNT) -Sierra Nevada Corporation(SNC) announces the expansion of itsDream Chaserprogram team and scope of work in Huntsville with the signing of a Space Act Agreement (SAA) Annex with NASAs Marshall Space Flight Center (MSFC) and a Teaming Agreement with Teledyne Brown Engineering (TBE).

We believe space is a team sport, saidMark Sirangelo, Corporate Vice President and head of SNCs Space Systems.During todays press conference at MSFC Sirangelopresented details of the two new agreements that advance the Dream Chaser spacecraft to enable science payload operations and technology development in support of continued growth and utilization of space and the International Space Station (ISS).

That means going to people who have the expertise, the knowledge and the ability to make us better; and really what today is about is that story were adding to our team.

Sirangelo outlined the substantial contribution each partner will make towards the Dream Chaser Advanced Development program.

Today we are pleased to announce that we are increasing our presence in Alabama by expanding our relationship with theMarshall Space Flight Centerand adding Teledyne Brown Engineering to our growing Dream Chaser team, Sirangelo said.

Each of these organizations provide experts in their respective fields and have already begun applying their invaluable knowledge and experience. We will work together to evaluate future low-Earth orbit (LEO) mission concepts for the Dream Chaser in the area of scientific payload operations with the goal of enhancing and enabling science in LEO. We are honored they are joining our already dynamic list of partners our Dream Team which now includes over 15 companies, seven NASA centers and a growing list of universities. The team spans more than 30 states and several countries with the common goal of furthering the development of the multi-mission Dream Chaser spacecraft.

So what is Dream Chaser? Think of it like a mobile science lab much like we have on the space station.

It has the capability of doing on-orbit research in a variety of different ways and we think one of the most critical ways to do that is looking at the whole bio-science area,Sirangelo said. Which is why SNC is reaching out to other state entities like UAH, UAB, and Hudson-Alpha Institute for Biotechnology.

SNCs Space Systems Advanced Development group is responsible for overseeing the multi-mission capability of the Dream Chaser spacecraft which includes crew-capable LEO servicing, science and transportation missions. The inherent capabilities of the reusable Dream Chaser lifting body spacecraft, as illustrated by its low-g reentry and runway landing, make it an ideal vehicle to support a variety of LEO missions.

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Sierra Nevada Corp. Expands Work in Huntsville with Marshall Space Flight Center and Teledyne Brown for Dream Chaser