A GROUNDBREAKING new sci-fi space plane is gearing up for orbit as it undergoes final tests. <\/p>\n
NASA and Sierra Space's Dream Chaser - the world's only commercial spacecraft - is slated to head to the International Space Station in the first half of 2024. <\/p>\n
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It will take to the skies with a cargo module known as Shooting Star. <\/p>\n
Tenacity - the first in the new fleet of Dream Chaser spaceplanes - has been dubbed the \"uncrewed spiritual successor to the Space Shuttle\". <\/p>\n
Unlike traditional ocean landings, the first-ever winged commercial spacecraft will be able to land on runways - just like the Space Shuttle did. <\/p>\n
At 30ft long,its roughly a quarter of the length of the space shuttle orbiters - and can be reused up to 15 times. <\/p>\n
It was picked by NASA to deliver, return and dispose of cargo for the International Space Station - carrying critical supplies like food, water, and science experiments. <\/p>\n
Commercial space firm Sierra Space said it is \"ushering in the next era of space exploration with its revolutionary fleet of Dream Chaser spaceplanes\". <\/p>\n
Tenacity - the firstof the Dream Chaserspaceplanes - will provide a minimum of seven cargo missions to and from the space station. <\/p>\n
It was delivered to NASA's Neil Armstrong Test Facility in Sandusky, Ohio for final testing in mid-December. <\/p>\n
The space plane will be stacked on top of the Shooting Star cargo module and undergo rigorous environmental testing. <\/p>\n
The test will recreate the extreme vibrations and conditions similar to those experienced during both launch and re-entry into Earth's atmosphere, NASA said. <\/p>\n
The spacecraft will be carried by a ULA Vulcan Centaur rocket and is scheduled to launch from the Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Florida. <\/p>\n
The Dream Chaser spacecrafts will be engineered to be reused - and compatible with a variety of launch vehicles. <\/p>\n
Sierra Space CEO Tom Vice said: \"At Sierra Space, we are ushering in the next industrial revolution with a business and technology platform that provides our customers with a complete turn-key solution offering space as a service. <\/p>\n
\"Our platform includes Dream Chaser, a revolutionary, highly reusable commercial spaceplane with global runway access, and the first business-ready commercial space station.\" <\/p>\n
He said the design \"will exponentially decrease the cost of product development and manufacturing in space\". <\/p>\n
Dream Chaser can be customised for both domestic and international customers for global operation. <\/p>\n
NASA said the Shooting Star cargo module is specifically designed to \"support delivery and disposal of pressurised and unpressurised cargo to and from the space station\". <\/p>\n
\"The cargo module can be used only once and is disposed of prior to re-entry,\" the space agency said. <\/p>\n
The 15ft Shooting Star cargo attachment can deliver up to 5,000kg of cargo into orbit. <\/p>\n
The spacecraft is scheduled to spend around 45 days at the space station on its first trip. <\/p>\n
In readiness for Dream Chaser missions to the space station, multiple NASA astronaut crews have visited Sierra Space facilities for training, Sierra Space said. <\/p>\n
A second Dream Chaser is already in production at the companys manufacturing base in Colorado. <\/p>\n
It comes after NASA successfully tested a new type of rocket engine that could one day get us to Mars quicker. <\/p>\n
The engine - called the Rotating Detonation Rocket Engine (RDRE) - uses a new way of burning fuel to produce thrust. <\/p>\n
Instead of burning fuel in a continuous stream, the RDRE detonates it in a series of explosions, as shown in a newvideo. <\/p>\n
This is meant to create a more efficient and powerful burn - which could propel spacecraft toMarsin as little as four months. <\/p>\n
Typically, it takes current engines around six months to reach theRed Planet. <\/p>\n
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The rest is here:<\/p>\n
NASAs new Dream Chaser sci-fi space plane ready for final tests as supersonic mini space shuttle wil... - The Sun<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" A GROUNDBREAKING new sci-fi space plane is gearing up for orbit as it undergoes final tests. NASA and Sierra Space's Dream Chaser - the world's only commercial spacecraft - is slated to head to the International Space Station in the first half of 2024. Continue reading