https://twitter.com/jeff_foust/status/1841557509133480088QuoteA couple notes from today's ULA Cert-2 briefing:- ULA still expects to launch USSF-106 and 87 missions (first national security Vulcan flights) this year, assuming Cert-2 goes well;- 20 launches next year, split half-and-half between Atlas and Vulcan;- first Atlas 5 Kuiper launch slips to early next year;- room in the manifest next year for Dream Chaser, but no date set yet.
A couple notes from today's ULA Cert-2 briefing:- ULA still expects to launch USSF-106 and 87 missions (first national security Vulcan flights) this year, assuming Cert-2 goes well;- 20 launches next year, split half-and-half between Atlas and Vulcan;- first Atlas 5 Kuiper launch slips to early next year;- room in the manifest next year for Dream Chaser, but no date set yet.
Dreamchaser-1 is now NET May 2025. I'm not sure I would feel particularly confident in that date either, but there you go.
Crew-8 Awaits Splashdown; Expedition 72 Stays Focused on ScienceOctober 15, 2024[...]The first flight of Sierra Space’s Dream Chaser to the International Space Station is now scheduled for no earlier than May 2025 to allow for completion of spacecraft testing. Dream Chaser, which will launch atop a ULA (United Launch Alliance) Vulcan rocket and later glide to a runway landing at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida, will carry cargo to the orbiting laboratory and stay on board for approximately 45 days on its first mission.
Launch possibly delayed to beyond May. [Oct 21]QuoteDue to unforeseen circumstances, testing needs to carry on through no later than summer of 2025, and an STA is being sought herein to cover operations expected to occur no later than 06/01/2025.
Due to unforeseen circumstances, testing needs to carry on through no later than summer of 2025, and an STA is being sought herein to cover operations expected to occur no later than 06/01/2025.
2315-EX-ST-2024 [Dec 13]QuoteThe primary purpose of this operation is to deliver cargo to the ISS using DCCS, conduct ISS attached operations/experiments, dispose/return cargo from the ISS, and to land Dream Chaser. There has been a delay in the DCC-1 mission. The current request for an STA covering the new DCC-1 mission dates, nominally 45 days with an expected launch date of May 21, 2025. Out of abundance of caution to account for possible slips in the Launch date, an STA is being requested from 05/01/2024 to 10/28/2025.
The primary purpose of this operation is to deliver cargo to the ISS using DCCS, conduct ISS attached operations/experiments, dispose/return cargo from the ISS, and to land Dream Chaser. There has been a delay in the DCC-1 mission. The current request for an STA covering the new DCC-1 mission dates, nominally 45 days with an expected launch date of May 21, 2025. Out of abundance of caution to account for possible slips in the Launch date, an STA is being requested from 05/01/2024 to 10/28/2025.
One interesting note from a #satshow panel this morning: Erik Daehler of Sierra Space says the company is now targeting the end of summer for the first Dream Chaser mission.
In today's CRS-32 Prelaunch News Teleconference (at 27:30), Dream Chaser launch date is now expected "sometime later this fall".
I have to wonder what in the world is going on with Dream Chaser that it has fallen this far behind in its preparations for launch.
Authorized is requested to conduct continued EMI testing of the Dream Chaser spacecraft (Call Sign WX9XBF) in order to ensure mission safety and support flight readiness. Additional considerations regarding the EMI testing are also provided on a confidential basis. The rationale for confidential treatment, reproduced herein, is as in file number 0660-EX-ST-2024 (grant call sign WX9XQL) which has a description of the mission to International Space Station which the testing is supporting. Two additional Exhibits are provided in this respect, replacing the Exhibit previously provided with this application.Operation Start Date: 06/20/2025Operation End Date: 12/20/2025
This application seeks to allow further testing due to unforeseen delays which have led to a new launch date in May 2025. Taxi Tow Testing of Sierra Space Corporations Dream Chaser Space Plane ahead of its first mission to the International Space Station (ISS) for Cargo delivery and return. (See also grant call sign WX9XXS)
Sierra Space seeks a Special Temporary Authority for further testing of its Dream Chaser spacecraft (Vehicle Transmitter) planned to be launched for a mission to support cargo delivery to and from the International Space Station (ISS). Sierra Space is requesting an STA for testing to occur between June 20, 2025 to December 20, 2025. The testing will support Sierra Space Corporations DC-101 mission using the Dream Chaser Cargo System (DCCS), as part of the NASA Commercial Resupply Services.Testing of its Dream Chaser spacecraft planned to be launched for mission support of cargo delivery to and from the ISS. The EMC test and RF capabilities of the vehicle testing will demonstrate, amongst other, that electromagnetic interference characteristics of the subsystem, under normal operating conditions, do not result in malfunction of the subsystem. It also demonstrates that the subsystem does not emit, radiate, or conduct interference, which could result in malfunction of other subsystems.
This application seeks to allow further testing due to unforeseen delays which have led to a new launch date in May 2025. Tow/taxi test demonstration of multi-system performance over a range of speeds and braking profiles of the Dream Chaser spacecraft. The tow/taxi test demonstrates multi-system performance over a range of speeds and braking profiles by towing the UDC down the runway at the Shuttle Landing Facility (SLF) at Kennedy Space System (KSC) to a test case specific speed and releasing the UDC such that it controls itself and brakes to a stop. Spacecraft telemetry links for monitoring of Dream Chaser spacecraft state of health.
https://www.nasa.gov/missions/station/nasa-sierra-space-modify-commercial-resupply-services-contract/After a thorough evaluation, NASA and Sierra Space have mutually agreed to modify the contract as the company determined Dream Chaser development is best served by a free flight demonstration, targeted in late 2026. Sierra Space will continue providing insight to NASA into the development of Dream Chaser, including through the flight demonstration. NASA will provide minimal support through the remainder of the development and the flight demonstration. As part of the modification, NASA is no longer obligated for a specific number of resupply missions, however, the agency may order Dream Chaser resupply flights to the space station from Sierra Space following a successful free flight as part of its current contract. Mod edit: deleted tracker from premalink.
‘Launch in late 2026’ – that means in about a year. After so many years of waiting, it's not that long, is it?https://twitter.com/SierraSpaceCo/status/1971274959700873501QuoteDream Chaser’s first flight will be a free-flyer, demonstration mission, which is expected to prove the technology and deliver critical data to @NASA. We believe this approach will provide us with the flexibility to address the nation’s most pressing national security space challenges, while continuing to advance Dream Chaser’s capabilities for NASA and commercial customers. Our team will be prioritizing first-flight readiness with Dream Chaser, targeting a launch in late 2026 to align with expected launch vehicle availability as we position Dream Chaser as a national asset available for future national security and defense demonstrations.Press Release: https://www.sierraspace.com/press-releases/dream-chaser-advances-toward-first-flight-eyes-multi-use-applications/
Dream Chaser’s first flight will be a free-flyer, demonstration mission, which is expected to prove the technology and deliver critical data to @NASA. We believe this approach will provide us with the flexibility to address the nation’s most pressing national security space challenges, while continuing to advance Dream Chaser’s capabilities for NASA and commercial customers. Our team will be prioritizing first-flight readiness with Dream Chaser, targeting a launch in late 2026 to align with expected launch vehicle availability as we position Dream Chaser as a national asset available for future national security and defense demonstrations.
