Author Topic: Vulcan VC4L V002 - Dream Chaser to ISS - CCSFS SLC-41 - Q2 2024  (Read 45998 times)

Offline Robert_the_Doll

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Re: Vulcan - Dream Chaser to ISS - CCSFS SLC-41 - NET 2023
« Reply #20 on: 03/10/2023 01:39 am »
Quote from:  woods170
At least two of those are, per my sources, commercial comsat launches.

Yes, but could either of those satellites be ready to fly on the Certification-2 mission before the end of summer, never mind the end of this year?

Offline litton4

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Re: Vulcan - Dream Chaser to ISS - CCSFS SLC-41 - NET 2023
« Reply #21 on: 03/15/2023 01:04 pm »
It does seem kind of silly to fly a real customer payload on the first flight, and then a mass sim on the second flight.  If (somehow, I think this scenario is pretty unlikely) no customer payloads could be found for flight 2 on short notice, could they consider bumping Peregrine to the second flight and flying the mass sim on flight 1? 

Would also give Astrobotic a bit more schedule margin if there are any last-minute integration challenges (IIRC, they still needed to install part of the propulsion system?)

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Offline Jim

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Re: Vulcan - Dream Chaser to ISS - CCSFS SLC-41 - NET 2023
« Reply #22 on: 03/15/2023 01:26 pm »

Apart from the maiden launch with Peregrine and 2 Kuiper demo sats, 19 awarded NSSL Phase 2 launches, 38 awarded Kuiper launches and 6 awarded Dream Chaser CRS2 launches, Vulcan also managed to score at least 6 not publically disclosed (as of yet) commercial launches. At least two of those are, per my sources, commercial comsat launches.

The total number of ordered Vulcan launches exceeded 70 late last year.


Which is more than Titan IV, Delta IV or Titan IIIB

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Re: Vulcan - Dream Chaser to ISS - CCSFS SLC-41 - NET 2023
« Reply #23 on: 03/24/2023 01:11 pm »
https://twitter.com/sciguyspace/status/1639266593564766211

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Some news: Dream Chaser’s debut is delayed until at least mid-December. This extends NASA’s reliance on Falcon 9 for crew *and* cargo. More critically, it also raises questions about Vulcan’s launch manifest and path to certification.

https://arstechnica.com/science/2023/03/dream-chaser-is-delayed-again-raising-questions-about-vulcan-launch-plans/

Online zubenelgenubi

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Launch circa end of 2023/beginning of 2024?

https://twitter.com/sierraspaceco/status/1661061868339838977

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Sierra Space hosted its first-ever official Dream Chaser training for astronauts, Jasmin Moghbeli (@NASA) and Satoshi Furukawa (@JAXA_en), of the upcoming #SpaceX Crew-7 mission to the @Space_Station.

Press Release:

https://www.sierraspace.com/newsroom/press-releases/sierra-space-trains-nasa-jasmin-moghbeli-and-jaxa-satoshi-furukawa-for-dream-chaser-spaceplane-mission-to-international-space-station/

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Sierra Space Trains NASA’s Jasmin Moghbeli and JAXA’s Satoshi Furukawa for Dream Chaser® Spaceplane Mission to International Space Station
MAY 23, 2023|   NEWS

Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency designated Furukawa as a member of Crew-7 early Monday morning

LOUISVILLE, Colo. – May 23, 2023 – Sierra Space, a leading, pureplay commercial space company building the first end-to-end business and technology platform in space, announced today it has achieved another significant milestone in the journey to the first flight of Dream Chaser®. The company hosted its first-ever official training for astronauts from NASA and JAXA to learn the innerworkings of the world’s first commercial spaceplane.

The astronauts – Jasmin Moghbeli (United States) and Satoshi Furukawa (Japan) – are two members of the upcoming SpaceX Crew-7 mission to the International Space Station (ISS). During their planned six-month stay, Dream Chaser will make its maiden voyage to deliver cargo to the ISS as part of NASA’s Commercial Resupply Services-2 (CRS-2) contract.

“We are honored to provide NASA cargo resupply missions to the International Space Station. The astronaut training is another important milestone as we complete the final preparations for Dream Chaser’s first mission,” said Sierra Space CEO Tom Vice. “Our team provided a comprehensive training experience for these Crew-7 members to prepare them for when Dream Chaser berths at the ISS.”

Sierra Space compiled an eight-hour training session that took place on March 7 at the company’s Louisville, Colorado facility. Company specialists conducted the training, which was divided into four sections. Parts 1 and 2 were classroom training, while Parts 3 and 4 involved a full-size mock-up of Dream Chaser:

Part 1: Dream Chaser Overview – Sierra Space team members gave Moghbeli and Furukawa a full briefing on Dream Chaser. Topics covered included systems identification and function, mission profiles (from launch and rendezvous to reentry and landing), crew interfaces and operations (i.e., types of cargo, how to load/unload, etc.). At the end of Part 1, astronauts walked away with a full understanding of the hardware they will encounter on Dream Chaser once it is at the ISS.

Part 2: Rendezvous and Proximity Operations (RPO) – This portion of the training covered required actions as Dream Chaser makes its approach and officially berths with the ISS. Sierra Space employees carefully reviewed the timeline, profile and procedural operations of the high-level system configuration involved in this critical part of the mission.

Part 3: Dream Chaser Hardware Familiarization and Scenarios – The astronauts moved into a full-size mock-up of Dream Chaser. As they walked through the vehicle, Sierra Space employees identified hardware/systems and taught the astronauts how to operate and/or interface with each one. The astronauts also learned vehicle ingress/egress procedures, as well as discussed off-nominal scenarios.

“This was the portion of the training where the astronauts were blown away by Dream Chaser’s massive size, often commenting, ‘Wow, you can fit a lot of cargo in here,’” said Krista Abler, with Sierra Space’s Flight Operations Mission Training team. “You can look at CAD drawings or read about Dream Chaser’s dimensions all day long. But its immense capacity doesn’t really register until you crawl inside. I think this is a reason why NASA is excited about our vehicle.”

Part 4: Cargo Transfer Scenarios – During the final portion of training, the astronauts learned how to properly and safely install/remove cargo from Dream Chaser, using the same procedures and operational tools as they will on orbit. They practiced with numerous restraints (i.e., straps, beams, etc.), identified hazards associated with cargo operations and ran scenario drills.

“This was probably the most important lesson of the day because the whole point of Dream Chaser coming to the ISS is to deliver cargo,” Abler said.

Press release photo captions:

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Crew 7 Astronauts Train in Sierra Space Dream Chaser mockup

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NASA’s Jasmin Moghbeli trains in Sierra Space's Dream Chaser spaceplane mockup
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Dream Chaser has been powered up for the first time!

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Sierra Space’s Dream Chaser® Spaceplane Comes to Life

MAY 31, 2023

Sierra Space, a leading, pureplay commercial space company building the first end-to-end business and technology platform in space, is thrilled to announce the successful power up of its revolutionary Dream Chaser® spaceplane.

Dream Chaser represents a groundbreaking leap in space transportation technology, designed to provide reliable and cost-effective access to space for a wide range of applications. With its unique lifting body design, the spaceplane combines the flexibility of an aircraft with the capabilities of a spacecraft, revolutionizing space travel.

The power-up of Dream Chaser signifies the activation of its integrated systems, showcasing the culmination of years of rigorous engineering, design, and testing. Sierra Space simulated the power that will be generated from Dream Chaser’s solar arrays once on orbit. Test engineers plugged that power into Dream Chaser and began turning on systems. Sierra Space exercised flight computers, base processors and low-voltage distribution units.

“This is a milestone that points to the future and is a key moment in a long journey for Dream Chaser.” said Tom Vice, CEO of Sierra Space. “With this significant achievement, our Dream Chaser spaceplane is poised to redefine commercial space travel, opening up new possibilities for scientific research, technological advancements, and economic opportunities in space.”

The successful test was a key moment for the progress of space technology after years of design and development across Sierra Space, enabled by the accomplishments of many teams from system level design to final assembly and test.

[...]
Lukas C. H. • Hobbyist Mission Patch Artist 🎨 • May the force be with you my friend, Ad Astra Per Aspera ✨️

Offline deltaV

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Re: Vulcan - Dream Chaser to ISS - CCSFS SLC-41 - NET 2023
« Reply #26 on: 06/01/2023 02:19 am »
https://twitter.com/sciguyspace/status/1639266593564766211

Quote
Some news: Dream Chaser’s debut is delayed until at least mid-December. This extends NASA’s reliance on Falcon 9 for crew *and* cargo. More critically, it also raises questions about Vulcan’s launch manifest and path to certification.

https://arstechnica.com/science/2023/03/dream-chaser-is-delayed-again-raising-questions-about-vulcan-launch-plans/

I love how the entity most responsible for causing these delays (Sierra Space) is the entity that has to pay for the delays. Such an improvement compared to various other NASA programs that are off-topic in this thread where taxpayers pay for contractor mistakes. :)

Online zubenelgenubi

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Re: Vulcan - Dream Chaser to ISS - CCSFS SLC-41 - early 2024
« Reply #27 on: 06/08/2023 11:26 pm »
SFN Launch Schedule, updated June 8:
Early 2024
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Offline Jim

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Re: Vulcan - Dream Chaser to ISS - CCSFS SLC-41 - early 2024
« Reply #28 on: 06/09/2023 01:11 pm »

I love how the entity most responsible for causing these delays (Sierra Space) is the entity that has to pay for the delays. Such an improvement compared to various other NASA programs that are off-topic in this thread where taxpayers pay for contractor mistakes. :)

No, it depends on who pays for the launch service.

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Re: Vulcan - Dream Chaser to ISS - CCSFS SLC-41 - early 2024
« Reply #29 on: 06/14/2023 12:38 am »
Heads-up.  Will remediation delay this launch, even if the Peregrine/Kuiper pair launch proceeds as-is?  (rhetorical question at this time)
https://twitter.com/torybruno/status/1668314430785097728
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Root cause found. Working corrective action and retest.

Root cause of Centaur failure on test stand for is:

https://twitter.com/torybruno/status/1668571711061610496

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The super thin, high performance steel skin needs to be a little thicker near the top of the dome.
« Last Edit: 06/14/2023 12:40 am by zubenelgenubi »
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Offline Vahe231991

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Re: Vulcan - Dream Chaser to ISS - CCSFS SLC-41 - early 2024
« Reply #30 on: 06/14/2023 01:04 am »
Heads-up.  Will remediation delay this launch, even if the Peregrine/Kuiper pair launch proceeds as-is?  (rhetorical question at this time)
https://twitter.com/torybruno/status/1668314430785097728
Quote
Root cause found. Working corrective action and retest.

Root cause of Centaur failure on test stand for is:

https://twitter.com/torybruno/status/1668571711061610496

Quote
The super thin, high performance steel skin needs to be a little thicker near the top of the dome.
Here's my scenario: The launch of the USSF-106 aboard the Vulcan could come first, followed by the maiden orbital launch of the Dream Chaser. After all, Sierra Nevada might give itself additional time in the second half of 2023 to prepare the Dream Chaser vehicle Tenacity for encapsulation inside the Vulcan assigned to the first Dream Chaser launch and eventual launch.
« Last Edit: 06/14/2023 01:05 am by Vahe231991 »

Online DanClemmensen

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Re: Vulcan - Dream Chaser to ISS - CCSFS SLC-41 - early 2024
« Reply #31 on: 06/14/2023 01:45 am »
Here's my scenario: The launch of the USSF-106 aboard the Vulcan could come first, followed by the maiden orbital launch of the Dream Chaser. After all, Sierra Nevada might give itself additional time in the second half of 2023 to prepare the Dream Chaser vehicle Tenacity for encapsulation inside the Vulcan assigned to the first Dream Chaser launch and eventual launch.
USSF-106 is an NSSL flight. NSSL rules require that Vulcan Centaur must fly at least two successful missions before ti flies an NSSL mission. In theory I suppose ULA could fly a Kuiper mission as the second mission, except that Kuiper probably won't fly a full-up mission until after the first two test satellites fly (on Vulcan Centaur's initial flight) and the test results have been evaluated.

Offline Vahe231991

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Re: Vulcan - Dream Chaser to ISS - CCSFS SLC-41 - early 2024
« Reply #32 on: 06/14/2023 02:32 am »
Here's my scenario: The launch of the USSF-106 aboard the Vulcan could come first, followed by the maiden orbital launch of the Dream Chaser. After all, Sierra Nevada might give itself additional time in the second half of 2023 to prepare the Dream Chaser vehicle Tenacity for encapsulation inside the Vulcan assigned to the first Dream Chaser launch and eventual launch.
USSF-106 is an NSSL flight. NSSL rules require that Vulcan Centaur must fly at least two successful missions before ti flies an NSSL mission. In theory I suppose ULA could fly a Kuiper mission as the second mission, except that Kuiper probably won't fly a full-up mission until after the first two test satellites fly (on Vulcan Centaur's initial flight) and the test results have been evaluated.
Since NSSL rules require the Vulcan rocket to fly two successful missions before being certified for NSSL launches, I should mention that because the Dream Chaser Tenacity was recently powered up for the first time on May 31, it might make its first orbital flight in a few months after the Peregrine is launched.
« Last Edit: 06/14/2023 03:55 am by Vahe231991 »

Offline Jim

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Re: Vulcan - Dream Chaser to ISS - CCSFS SLC-41 - early 2024
« Reply #33 on: 06/14/2023 03:15 pm »

Since NSSL rules require the Vulcan rocket to fly two successful missions before being certified for NSSL launches, I should mention that because the Dream Chaser Tenacity was recently powered up for the first time on May 31, it might make its first orbital flight in a few months after the Peregrine is launched.

No, it is a long ways from launching, more than a year

Online Craigles


Since NSSL rules require the Vulcan rocket to fly two successful missions before being certified for NSSL launches, I should mention that because the Dream Chaser Tenacity was recently powered up for the first time on May 31, it might make its first orbital flight in a few months after the Peregrine is launched.

No, it is a long ways from launching, more than a year
Medium, heavy, and rideshare launch demand is strong. If Peregrine and Dream Chaser are not ready, competitive alternative customers should be scheduled. Playing "schedule chicken" and finger pointing are not an abject circumstance. Even if Centaur V is not ready, get everything else ready. Even if BE-4 is not ready, get everything else ready. Waste anything but time here, because wasted time will waste money and add risk.
I'd rather be here now

Online Craigles


Since NSSL rules require the Vulcan rocket to fly two successful missions before being certified for NSSL launches, I should mention that because the Dream Chaser Tenacity was recently powered up for the first time on May 31, it might make its first orbital flight in a few months after the Peregrine is launched.

No, it is a long ways from launching, more than a year
Medium, heavy, and rideshare launch demand is strong. If Peregrine and Dream Chaser are not ready, competitive alternative customers should be scheduled. Playing "schedule chicken" and finger pointing are not an abject circumstance. Even if Centaur V is not ready, get everything else ready. Even if BE-4 is not ready, get everything else ready. Waste anything but time here, because wasted time will waste money and add risk.
Perhaps my comment belongs in the Vulcan general discussion thread, https://forum.nasaspaceflight.com/index.php?topic=44390.0 .
I'd rather be here now

Online DanClemmensen

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Re: Vulcan - Dream Chaser to ISS - CCSFS SLC-41 - early 2024
« Reply #36 on: 06/17/2023 05:25 pm »

Since NSSL rules require the Vulcan rocket to fly two successful missions before being certified for NSSL launches, I should mention that because the Dream Chaser Tenacity was recently powered up for the first time on May 31, it might make its first orbital flight in a few months after the Peregrine is launched.

No, it is a long ways from launching, more than a year
Medium, heavy, and rideshare launch demand is strong. If Peregrine and Dream Chaser are not ready, competitive alternative customers should be scheduled. Playing "schedule chicken" and finger pointing are not an abject circumstance. Even if Centaur V is not ready, get everything else ready. Even if BE-4 is not ready, get everything else ready. Waste anything but time here, because wasted time will waste money and add risk.
I got the (perhaps mistaken) impression that the first two flights of any new LV are considered to be risky and the customers get a discount and probably self-insure. It's certainly the case that the risk of LV schedule slippage is high, so a customer that needs a payload to launch on time will probably decide to avoid the first one or two launches of a new LV. One way for ULA to avoid this is to launch their own dummy payload, as SpaceX did with FH.

Online FutureSpaceTourist

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Re: Vulcan - Dream Chaser to ISS - CCSFS SLC-41 - early 2024
« Reply #37 on: 06/27/2023 06:05 pm »
Cross post:

https://twitter.com/thesheetztweetz/status/1673753912526905345

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Vice on Cargo Dream Chaser's timeline to inaugural launch: Shipping vehicle to NASA's Armstrong test facility this summer, then to Kennedy for integration with ULA by year end, and targeting launch in a window between late December and early February.

Offline Vahe231991

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Re: Vulcan - Dream Chaser to ISS - CCSFS SLC-41 - early 2024
« Reply #38 on: 06/27/2023 07:26 pm »
What is the Dream Chaser vehicle Tenacity being shipped to NASA Armstrong for?

Offline whitelancer64

What is the Dream Chaser vehicle Tenacity being shipped to NASA Armstrong for?

Vacuum and acoustic / environmental testing.

The Armstrong Test Facility was formerly known as Plum Brook.
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