Quote from: TrevorMonty on 06/07/2025 08:45 pmBecause Drsgon was so reliable there wasn't urgency in NASA for alternative so they weren't worried about delays with Starliner.Turns out, there was/is an unreliable element of the Dragon, just one that isn’t technical.Now that this problem has been demonstrated, it will be addressed in an appropriate way.
Because Drsgon was so reliable there wasn't urgency in NASA for alternative so they weren't worried about delays with Starliner.
Quote from: jimvela on 06/07/2025 10:34 pmQuote from: TrevorMonty on 06/07/2025 08:45 pmBecause Drsgon was so reliable there wasn't urgency in NASA for alternative so they weren't worried about delays with Starliner.Turns out, there was/is an unreliable element of the Dragon, just one that isn’t technical.You mean like POTUS trying to cancel Dragon contract?
Quote from: TrevorMonty on 06/07/2025 08:45 pmBecause Drsgon was so reliable there wasn't urgency in NASA for alternative so they weren't worried about delays with Starliner.Turns out, there was/is an unreliable element of the Dragon, just one that isn’t technical.
First mission may not berth with ISSAccording to one source, Sierra is considering a modification to its first mission to shorten the certification period.The company had planned to fly the vehicle close enough to the space station such that it could be captured and berthed to the orbiting laboratory. One option now under consideration is a mission that would bring Dream Chaser close enough to the station to test key elements of the vehicle in flight but not have it berth.This would increase confidence in the spacecraft's propulsion system and provide the data NASA and partner space agencies need to clear the vehicle to approach and berth with the station on its second flight. However, this would require a modification of the company's contract with NASA, and a final decision has not yet been reached on whether to perform a flyby mission before an actual berthing.It appears highly unlikely that Dream Chaser will be ready for its debut spaceflight this year for these technical reasons. Another challenge is the availability of its Vulcan launch vehicle. After years of delays, Vulcan is finally due to make its first national security launch as early as this coming Sunday. Assuming this launch is successful, Vulcan has a busy manifest in the coming months for the US Space Force.
We can wait.
Quote from: JAFO on 08/05/2025 07:58 pmWe can wait.But not too much longer or there won't be an ISS to service when it gets there!
Quote from: StraumliBlight on 06/10/2025 08:57 pm1143-EX-ST-2025 & 0459-EX-CR-2025 [Jun 10]QuoteRequesting 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: 12/20/2025This filing was granted on July 29th as is effective from July 24, 2025 to 3AM ET on December 21, 2025.Another filing (1480-EX-ST-2025) to allow the RALTs (radar altimeters) to be powered and operational during tow/taxi was Denied/Dismissed on August 5th. However it does provide some insight into the tow/taxi tests. The request for for an operational period between September 1, 2025 and March 1, 2026.QuoteExplanationPlease explain in the area below why an STA is necessary:Requesting to operate the RALTs on the runway for final integrated and flight like validation of system functionality in order to ensure mission safety and support flight readiness.Purpose of OperationPlease explain the purpose of operation: The RALTs will be powered and measuring (transmit and receive) while the Uncrewed Dream Chaser (UDC) is on the runway. The RALTS will be powered on while the UDC is stationary, they will stay on as the UDC is towed up to 40 mph by a tow truck and then brought to a safe stop. Once the UDC is stationary again, the RALTS will be powered off before personnel approach and while analysis is performed on the data gathered from the tow. The RALTs will be powered on for less than 1 hour at a time, periodically throughout an 8 hour period (3 cases expected). If additional cases are added, the operation of the RALTs will not change (~1 hour powered period, periodically throughout the day, potentially more than 1 day).The application was denied due to non-payment of the required filing fee.In addition to the FCC updates, NASA provided an update during a Crew-11 press conference in response to a Sawyer question.https://twitter.com/NASASpaceflight/status/1951341362965586236 [Aug. 1]QuoteSawyer Rosenstien (@thenasaman) gained an update on @SierraSpaceCo's Dream Chaser status from ISS Program Manager Dana Weigel today."They're working really hard. I think everyone really underestimates what it takes to put together a complex spacecraft. I mean, you're watching it right now with Boeing Starliner, you're watching it with Sierra, but if we remind ourselves on average it takes eight to ten years for a spacecraft to get ready and fly."Everybody's hopeful they'll be closer to six, but in reality there are a lot of complexities and you want to get it right. You got to fly when you're ready (via) final certification work. "Some of the big key areas that they're focused on is the software certification. You've got to test end-to-end all the different software functions. So that's a big focus area for them. And then they're still working on certification in the prop system."We still have some of our integrated safety reviews to do, and we're in the process with updating both of our schedules to try to understand where does that really put us. And so Sierra's working on that, and so I need to wait and just get information back from them to see where they think some of that work lines out. "But we are looking forward to having them flying. They're a berthing vehicle, so that's helpful for us to have dissimilar capabilities in terms of our ports and our logistics. "So we will be ready for them when they're ready to fly."
1143-EX-ST-2025 & 0459-EX-CR-2025 [Jun 10]QuoteRequesting 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
Requesting 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
ExplanationPlease explain in the area below why an STA is necessary:Requesting to operate the RALTs on the runway for final integrated and flight like validation of system functionality in order to ensure mission safety and support flight readiness.Purpose of OperationPlease explain the purpose of operation: The RALTs will be powered and measuring (transmit and receive) while the Uncrewed Dream Chaser (UDC) is on the runway. The RALTS will be powered on while the UDC is stationary, they will stay on as the UDC is towed up to 40 mph by a tow truck and then brought to a safe stop. Once the UDC is stationary again, the RALTS will be powered off before personnel approach and while analysis is performed on the data gathered from the tow. The RALTs will be powered on for less than 1 hour at a time, periodically throughout an 8 hour period (3 cases expected). If additional cases are added, the operation of the RALTs will not change (~1 hour powered period, periodically throughout the day, potentially more than 1 day).
Sawyer Rosenstien (@thenasaman) gained an update on @SierraSpaceCo's Dream Chaser status from ISS Program Manager Dana Weigel today."They're working really hard. I think everyone really underestimates what it takes to put together a complex spacecraft. I mean, you're watching it right now with Boeing Starliner, you're watching it with Sierra, but if we remind ourselves on average it takes eight to ten years for a spacecraft to get ready and fly."Everybody's hopeful they'll be closer to six, but in reality there are a lot of complexities and you want to get it right. You got to fly when you're ready (via) final certification work. "Some of the big key areas that they're focused on is the software certification. You've got to test end-to-end all the different software functions. So that's a big focus area for them. And then they're still working on certification in the prop system."We still have some of our integrated safety reviews to do, and we're in the process with updating both of our schedules to try to understand where does that really put us. And so Sierra's working on that, and so I need to wait and just get information back from them to see where they think some of that work lines out. "But we are looking forward to having them flying. They're a berthing vehicle, so that's helpful for us to have dissimilar capabilities in terms of our ports and our logistics. "So we will be ready for them when they're ready to fly."
Will this free-flight use the module cargo starshooting?https://twitter.com/SierraSpaceCo/status/1971274959700873501
Wow. Is this as significant as it sounds? It sounds like Sierra Space / Dream Chaser is taking all of the risk here, for the same reward they already were entitled to before. It really seems like they are getting shafted here. Is it due to non-performance?
According to one source, Sierra is considering a modification to its first mission to shorten the certification period.The company had planned to fly the vehicle close enough to the space station such that it could be captured and berthed to the orbiting laboratory. One option now under consideration is a mission that would bring Dream Chaser close enough to the station to test key elements of the vehicle in flight but not have it berth.This would increase confidence in the spacecraft's propulsion system and provide the data NASA and partner space agencies need to clear the vehicle to approach and berth with the station on its second flight. However, this would require a modification of the company's contract with NASA, and a final decision has not yet been reached on whether to perform a flyby mission before an actual berthing.
NSF - NASASpaceflight.com@NASASpaceflightNot good news on the Dream Chaser front."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"
Scott Manley@DJSnMSo I guess it’s downgraded to free flyer? And much later in 2026
Felix Space Time@Space_Time3Not looking good for Dream Chaser…
Eric Berger@SciGuySpace·News today: NASA and Sierra Space are unwinding part of their Dream Chaser agreement. It now seems possible the spacecraft never visits the ISS.
[...]I guess SNC doesn't want to send Dream Chaser to ISS before they do a free flight. Lack of confidence in their own vehicle?
from the Dream Chaser Update thread:QuoteSawyer Rosenstien (@thenasaman) gained an update on @SierraSpaceCo's Dream Chaser status from ISS Program Manager Dana Weigel today...."Some of the big key areas that they're focused on is the software certification. You've got to test end-to-end all the different software functions. So that's a big focus area for them. And then they're still working on certification in the prop system."We still have some of our integrated safety reviews to do, and we're in the process with updating both of our schedules to try to understand where does that really put us. And so Sierra's working on that, and so I need to wait and just get information back from them to see where they think some of that work lines out. "But we are looking forward to having them flying. They're a berthing vehicle, so that's helpful for us to have dissimilar capabilities in terms of our ports and our logistics. "So we will be ready for them when they're ready to fly."
Sawyer Rosenstien (@thenasaman) gained an update on @SierraSpaceCo's Dream Chaser status from ISS Program Manager Dana Weigel today...."Some of the big key areas that they're focused on is the software certification. You've got to test end-to-end all the different software functions. So that's a big focus area for them. And then they're still working on certification in the prop system."We still have some of our integrated safety reviews to do, and we're in the process with updating both of our schedules to try to understand where does that really put us. And so Sierra's working on that, and so I need to wait and just get information back from them to see where they think some of that work lines out. "But we are looking forward to having them flying. They're a berthing vehicle, so that's helpful for us to have dissimilar capabilities in terms of our ports and our logistics. "So we will be ready for them when they're ready to fly."
The bigger issue isn’t that it won’t be docking, but the timeline, imho. I had thought the Vulcan Centaur was the hold up, guess not.
