Dream Chaser spacecraft completes captive-carry test

Originally published on August 28, 2013

The Dream Chaser spacecraft completed a captive-carry test run by NASA partner Sierra Nevada Corporation of Louisville, on August 22 at Dryden Flight Research Center in Edwards, California.

According to reports, Dream Chaser's flight computer, its guidance and the navigation and control systems were tested.

The landing gear and nose skid were also deployed during flight, to check if the spacecraft will be able to operate properly on its own.

The Dream Chaser measures nine meters long and has a wingspan of seven metres. It is designed to carry two to seven people from low earth orbit and provide launch services to transport NASA astronauts to the International Space Station from U.S. soil.

It is able to launch vertically on an Atlas V and land horizontally on conventional runways.

During the test, it was carried under an Erickson Air-Crane helicopter.
The helicopter picked up a test version of the Dream Chaser flight vehicle and flew it a distance of three miles over a dry lake bed at Edwards Air Force Base.

According to reports, it was not the first test being carried out by Sierra Nevada Corporation.

In May 2012 in fact the corporation carried out a similar captive-carry test, though the test was not as thorough.

According to reports, the test paves the way for upcoming free-flight tests at Dryden this fall as part of the Sierra Nevada Corporation of Louisville agreements with NASA.

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