They have contracts in for solar panels to extend their duration on orbit (potentially allowing them to serve as a free flying laboratory)They have contracts in to a landing gear supplier to ensure that's taken care of, which is pretty important given the trouble their first landing test had with landing gear re-purposed from an old plane (although a perfectly reasonable strategy to keep down costs for an experimental vehicle)They are still in the running for NASA CRS contracts.
Mark Sirangelo, Sierra Nevada Corp.: NASA has given us authority to proceed for first Dream Chaser cargo mission to the ISS, planned for late 2020. #FAACST2018
SPARKS, Nev. , February 07, 2018 – Sierra Nevada Corporation (SNC) received NASA’s Authority to Proceed for the Dream Chaser spacecraft’s first mission, with a launch window for late 2020. The mission will provide cargo resupply to the International Space Station under the Commercial Resupply Services Contract 2 (CRS2).“SNC has been successfully completing critical design milestones as approved by NASA, and having a timetable for the first launch is another important step achieved for us,” said Fatih Ozmen, owner and CEO of SNC. “The team has worked so hard to get to this point and we can’t wait to fulfill this mission for NASA.”Key Mission Capabilities:- Delivers up to 5,500 kg (12,125 lb) of pressurized and unpressurized supplies and scientific research payloads- Remains attached to the space station for extended periods so crew can transfer cargo and perform science laboratory operations - Flying laboratory that allows scientists to send commands, receive data in real-time- Powered payload science experiments can operate continuously during the mission- Critical science is conducted from the pressurized cabin (crew-tended or autonomous)- Unpressurized cargo/experiments are transferred to or from the space station via robotic operations- Returns up to 2000kg of cargo via pinpoint landing at NASA Kennedy Space Center (KSC) Shuttle Landing Facility (SLF) for -immediate post-landing handover to customer, maximizing the integrity of data collected on-orbit “The Dream Chaser is going to be a tremendous help to the critical science and research happening on the space station,” said Mark Sirangelo, executive vice president of SNC’s Space Systems business area. “Receiving NASA’s Authority to Proceed is a big step for the program. We can’t wait to see the vehicle return to Kennedy Space Center to a runway landing, allowing immediate access to the science payloads being returned from the station.”
I found a bit of my answer about orbital DC's landing gear...http://www.satellitetoday.com/launch/2018/01/03/triumph-build-landing-gear-system-dream-chaser/http://ir.triumphgroup.com/news-releases/news-release-details/triumph-expands-space-applications-contract-dream-chaserFrom this I'm going to assume that the ALT-2 test still retained the hydraulic main gear from the F-5 as used in ALT-1 until someone can provide evidence otherwise...
Between the 2013 and 2017 tests, a number of systems have changed on the Dream Chaser ETA including the main gear that is more advanced than that flown on the first test and is closer to the flight hardware.
John Roth, Sierra Nevada Corp.: we still hope in the future to move from cargo to crew with Dream Chaser. If that means bringing in investors to develop a crew version, we would be open to that.
Gregg Burgess, Sierra Nevada Corp.: 85–95% of Dream Chaser mission costs is the launch. Various companies, including ULA, working to reduce launch costs. “Multiple companies” around the world proposing to do future Dream Chaser launches after the first two on Atlas 5.
Given the size and weight, I can't think there are that many vehicles you could launch it on. Falcon 9, Ariane 5 or 6, maybe the H-2b or H-3 successor? Not sure on H-3's time table. NGL and Vulcan of course. Given the launches are for NASA would it matter if it launches from a foreign spaceport?
Quote from: WindnWar on 03/12/2018 12:43 amGiven the size and weight, I can't think there are that many vehicles you could launch it on. Falcon 9, Ariane 5 or 6, maybe the H-2b or H-3 successor? Not sure on H-3's time table. NGL and Vulcan of course. Given the launches are for NASA would it matter if it launches from a foreign spaceport?NASA may require there money be spent on domestic LV. NASA does use foreign LVs for some missions but that is typically a barter agreement with their partners eg ESA providing Ariane 5 for JWST.
Why Sierra Nevada’s owners are betting big on Dream ChaserQuoteTo Fatih and Eren Ozmen, Dream Chaser is more than a spaceplane. It’s a vehicle to transform the entire industry.http://spacenews.com/why-sierra-nevadas-owners-are-betting-big-on-dream-chaser/
To Fatih and Eren Ozmen, Dream Chaser is more than a spaceplane. It’s a vehicle to transform the entire industry.
See below for an update and a rare interview by the Ozmens:Quote from: Star One on 04/16/2018 04:00 pmWhy Sierra Nevada’s owners are betting big on Dream ChaserQuoteTo Fatih and Eren Ozmen, Dream Chaser is more than a spaceplane. It’s a vehicle to transform the entire industry.http://spacenews.com/why-sierra-nevadas-owners-are-betting-big-on-dream-chaser/
Sierra Nevada weighing options for launching future Dream Chaser missionsby Jeff Foust — April 18, 2018COLORADO SPRINGS — As Sierra Nevada Corporation (SNC) prepares its Dream Chaser cargo vehicle for a first launch on an Atlas 5 in late 2020, the company expects to make a decision by the end of this year on the rocket that will launch later missions.[...]He declined to discuss specific vehicles under consideration but said SNC received “really great response from all the major providers.”