"Tenacity" Introduced by Sierra Space
"Tenacity" Introduced by Sierra Space
First Spaceplane in the New Dream Chaser Fleet
The first Dream Chaser spaceplane is complete and ready to to be shipped to NASA’s Neil A. Armstrong Test Facility in Ohio for environmental testing in coming weeks.
“Today we have arrived at a profound milestone in both our company’s journey and our industry’s future."
Tom Vice, Sierra Space
Sierra Space unveiled "Tenacity" October 30th. “Today we have arrived at a profound milestone in both our company’s journey and our industry’s future – one that has been years in the making and is shaped by audacious dreaming and tenacious doing,” said Sierra Space CEO Tom Vice.
“I am reminded of a comment made by Steve Jobs that every once in a while, a revolutionary product comes along that changes everything. I think Dream Chaser is that product. This breakthrough shifts paradigms and redefines space travel. The Dream Chaser is not just a product; it’s a testament to human spirit, determination and the relentless pursuit of what lies beyond.”
The company says the versatile Dream Chaser spaceplane fleet is meticulously designed to facilitate the transportation of cargo and, in the future, crew to low-Earth orbit (LEO). This multi-mission platform offers customization options to cater to the needs of both domestic and international customers, further enhancing its role in global space operations. Under NASA’s Commercial Resupply Services 2 (CRS-2) contract, Dream Chaser has been selected to provide essential cargo delivery, return, and disposal services for the International Space Station.
At the heart of Dream Chaser is an unparalleled design, meticulously crafted with precision. Every curve and contour of this remarkable vehicle is engineered for excellence, seamlessly merging engineering with a beautiful design, and enabling the seamless integration of space travel and hypersonic atmospheric speeds. The spacecraft is designed to withstand temperatures exceeding 3,000 degrees during re-entry, all while being cool to the touch mere minutes after landing. The incorporation of the most advanced autonomous flight system, ensures a minimum 15-mission lifespan.
“Tenacity,” is poised to embark on its initial seven cargo missions to and from the International Space Station, carrying essential supplies such as food, water and scientific experiments. One of Dream Chaser’s groundbreaking features is its capability to safely return critical cargo to Earth at fewer than 1.5g’s, ensuring the preservation of invaluable payloads.
Sierra Space’s launch provider, United Launch Alliance (ULA), will carry Dream Chaser into orbit from Kennedy Space Center on the second Vulcan Centaur rocket. Tenacity’s maiden resupply mission will culminate with the vehicle’s return, landing at the historic NASA Space Shuttle Landing Facility.