Makes sense, both USA LV providers a working on their own manned capsules . This partnership will allow ESA to compete in manned space flight.
Quote from: TrevorMonty on 01/07/2014 08:29 amMakes sense, both USA LV providers a working on their own manned capsules . This partnership will allow ESA to compete in manned space flight.Nope. ESA does not 'compete' in manned space flight with any other space agency (or country). This is about what ESA has been doing for a long time: cooperate with other space agencies AND commercial parties to achieve it's goals in space.My bet that this is either the formal anouncement of the study-contract (involving, ESA, DLR and Sierra Nevada) or the preliminary results of that study. The study was contracted out last november.
Quote from: woods170 on 01/07/2014 10:09 amQuote from: TrevorMonty on 01/07/2014 08:29 amMakes sense, both USA LV providers a working on their own manned capsules . This partnership will allow ESA to compete in manned space flight.Nope. ESA does not 'compete' in manned space flight with any other space agency (or country). This is about what ESA has been doing for a long time: cooperate with other space agencies AND commercial parties to achieve it's goals in space.My bet that this is either the formal anouncement of the study-contract (involving, ESA, DLR and Sierra Nevada) or the preliminary results of that study. The study was contracted out last november.Would the ESA purchase their own flights to the ISS, or would they use Dream Chaser for standalone LEO science missions ? Of course, the best part of this news is that it gives the Dream Chaser program additional funding, and will help move it to completion.
http://www.esa.int/Our_Activities/Human_Spaceflight/International_Space_Station/Helping_make_Dream_Chaser_a_reality8 January 2014 ESA and American company Sierra Nevada Corporation (SNC), have signed an understanding to identify areas of collaboration with European industry for developing hardware and mission concepts for the Dream Chaser orbital transportation system.
More good news for Dream Chaser:http://www.nasaspaceflight.com/2014/01/dream-chaser-another-ccicap-milestone/
A potential scenario that has been put forward by sources claims two providers may survive, one at full funding, another with half funding – the “1.5″ scenario. It has also been suggested that SpaceX and SNC are classed as the front runners.
Great new article Chris and great news for "the little spaceplane that could"EVERYONE that loves DC should be talking up all of these great articles on FB... play up the stuff the general public loves like that it looks like a baby shuttle, that it has fuzzy dice, that SNC is the underdog...sometimes rumors spread enough to come true.(here's mine ... https://www.facebook.com/larry.pieniazek/posts/10152238110601804 )
Could be Dream Chaser heading into the last remaining OPF......January 21, 2014MEDIA ADVISORY M14-020Sierra Nevada Corporation Announces Dream Chaser Expansion along Florida’s Space CoastSierra Nevada Corporation (SNC) of Sparks, Nev., will announce expansion plans for its Dream Chaser Space System program in a news conference Thursday, Jan. 23, at NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida. The announcement will be carried live on NASA Television and the agency's website at 3 p.m. EST.SNC officials will discuss the company’s plans for expansion in the Kennedy area and the current status of the Dream Chaser program. Others will join the briefing to discuss how these developments assist in creating jobs and investment opportunities on the Space Coast that support Kennedy's transformation into a multi-user spaceport.The news conference will take place at Kennedy’s Press Site Television Auditorium. NASA TV will air the news conference prior to the launch of the agency’s Tracking and Data Relay Satellite (TDRS)-L. Liftoff of TDRS-L on a United Launch Alliance Atlas V rocket from Space Launch Complex 41 at Cape Canaveral Air Force Station in Florida is targeted for 9:05 p.m.Mark Sirangelo, corporate vice president and head of SNC’s Space Systems, will make the announcements and be joined by:-- Bob Cabana, Kennedy Space Center director-- Michael Gass, United Launch Alliance president and CEO-- Frank DiBello, Space Florida president and CEO-- Larry Price, Lockheed Martin Space Systems deputy program manager for NASA's Orion spacecraft-- Steve Lindsey, Sierra Nevada Corporation Dream Chaser program manager