The Sierra Nevada Corporation, or SNC, Dream Chaser flight vehicle is prepared for 60 mph tow tests on taxi and runways at NASA’s Dryden Flight Research Center at Edwards Air Force Base in California. Image credit: NASA/Ken Ulbrich
Sierra Nevada Corporation (SNC) suffered an apparent setback of its efforts to develop a commercial orbital passenger spacecraft today during the maiden free-flight of the atmospheric test article of the company’s Dream Chaser lifting body. According to eyewitness and confirmed by SNC, a landing gear deployment failure occurred and Dream Chaser flipped over after touchdown, damaging the craft and casting a pall of uncertainty over the future of SNC’s development schedule and the company’s goal of becoming one of NASA’s contracted ISS crew transport providers.
The Sierra Nevada Corporation, or SNC, Dream Chaser flight vehicle is prepared for 60 mile per hour tow tests on taxi and runways at NASA’s Dryden Flight Research Center at Edwards Air Force Base in California. Ground testing at 10, 20, 40 and 60 miles per hour is helping the company validate the performance of the spacecraft’s braking and landing systems prior to captive-carry and free-flight tests scheduled for later this year. SNC is continuing the development of its Dream Chaser spacecraft under the agency’s Commercial Crew Development Round 2, or CCDev2, and Commercial Crew Integrated Capability, or CCiCap, phases, which are intended to lead to the availability of commercial human spaceflight services for government and commercial customers. To learn more about CCP and its industry partners, visit www.nasa.gov/commercialcrew. Image credit: NASA/Ken Ulbrich
The Sierra Nevada Corporation, or SNC, Dream Chaser flight vehicle is prepared for 60 mile per hour tow tests on taxi and runways at NASA’s Dryden Flight Research Center at Edwards Air Force Base in California. Ground testing at 10, 20, 40 and 60 miles per hour is helping the company validate the performance of the spacecraft’s braking and landing systems prior to captive-carry and free-flight tests scheduled for later this year. SNC is continuing the development of its Dream Chaser spacecraft under the agency’s Commercial Crew Development Round 2, or CCDev2, and Commercial Crew Integrated Capability, or CCiCap, phases, which are intended to lead to the availability of commercial human spaceflight services for government and commercial customers. To learn more about CCP and its industry partners, visit www.nasa.gov/commercialcrew. Image credit: NASA/Ken Ulbrich
A pickup truck pulls the Sierra Nevada Corporation, or SNC, Dream Chaser flight vehicle through 60 mile per hour tow tests on taxi and runways at NASA’s Dryden Flight Research Center at Edwards Air Force Base in California. Ground testing at 10, 20, 40 and 60 miles per hour is helping the company validate the performance of the spacecraft’s braking and landing systems prior to captive-carry and free-flight tests scheduled for later this year. SNC is continuing the development of its Dream Chaser spacecraft under the agency’s Commercial Crew Development Round 2, or CCDev2, and Commercial Crew Integrated Capability, or CCiCap, phases, which are intended to lead to the availability of commercial human spaceflight services for government and commercial customers. To learn more about CCP and its industry partners, visit www.nasa.gov/commercialcrew. Image credit: NASA/Ken Ulbrich
A pickup truck pulls the Sierra Nevada Corporation, or SNC, Dream Chaser flight vehicle through 60 mile per hour tow tests on taxi and runways at NASA’s Dryden Flight Research Center at Edwards Air Force Base in California. Ground testing at 10, 20, 40 and 60 miles per hour is helping the company validate the performance of the spacecraft’s braking and landing systems prior to captive-carry and free-flight tests scheduled for later this year. SNC is continuing the development of its Dream Chaser spacecraft under the agency’s Commercial Crew Development Round 2, or CCDev2, and Commercial Crew Integrated Capability, or CCiCap, phases, which are intended to lead to the availability of commercial human spaceflight services for government and commercial customers. To learn more about CCP and its industry partners, visit www.nasa.gov/commercialcrew. Image credit: NASA/Ken Ulbrich
The Sierra Nevada Corporation, or SNC, Dream Chaser flight vehicle pulls out of a hangar at NASA’s Dryden Flight Research Center in California in preparation for tow tests. Ground testing at 10, 20, 40 and 60 miles per hour is helping the company validate the performance of the spacecraft’s braking and landing systems prior to captive-carry and free-flight tests scheduled for later this year. SNC is continuing the development of its Dream Chaser spacecraft under the agency’s Commercial Crew Development Round 2, or CCDev2, and Commercial Crew Integrated Capability, or CCiCap, phases, which are intended to lead to the availability of commercial human spaceflight services for government and commercial customers. To learn more about CCP and its industry partners, visit www.nasa.gov/commercialcrew. Image credit: NASA/Ken Ulbrich
The Sierra Nevada Corporation, or SNC, Dream Chaser flight vehicle is prepared for 60 mph tow tests on taxi and runways at NASA’s Dryden Flight Research Center at Edwards Air Force Base in California. Ground testing at 10, 20, 40 and 60 miles per hour is helping the company validate the performance of the spacecraft’s braking and landing systems prior to captive-carry and free-flight tests scheduled for later this year. SNC is continuing the development of its Dream Chaser spacecraft under the agency’s Commercial Crew Development Round 2, or CCDev2, and Commercial Crew Integrated Capability, or CCiCap, phases, which are intended to lead to the availability of commercial human spaceflight services for government and commercial customers. To learn more about CCP and its industry partners, visit www.nasa.gov/commercialcrew. Image credit: NASA/Ken Ulbrich
The Sierra Nevada Corporation, or SNC, Dream Chaser flight vehicle is prepared for 60 mph tow tests on taxi and runways at NASA’s Dryden Flight Research Center at Edwards Air Force Base in California. Ground testing at 10, 20, 40 and 60 miles per hour is helping the company validate the performance of the spacecraft’s braking and landing systems prior to captive-carry and free-flight tests scheduled for later this year. SNC is continuing the development of its Dream Chaser spacecraft under the agency’s Commercial Crew Development Round 2, or CCDev2, and Commercial Crew Integrated Capability, or CCiCap, phases, which are intended to lead to the availability of commercial human spaceflight services for government and commercial customers. To learn more about CCP and its industry partners, visit www.nasa.gov/commercialcrew. Image credit: NASA/Ken Ulbrich
The Sierra Nevada Corporation, or SNC, Dream Chaser flight vehicle is prepared for 60 mph tow tests on taxi and runways at NASA’s Dryden Flight Research Center at Edwards Air Force Base in California. Ground testing at 10, 20, 40 and 60 miles per hour is helping the company validate the performance of the spacecraft’s braking and landing systems prior to captive-carry and free-flight tests scheduled for later this year. SNC is continuing the development of its Dream Chaser spacecraft under the agency’s Commercial Crew Development Round 2, or CCDev2, and Commercial Crew Integrated Capability, or CCiCap, phases, which are intended to lead to the availability of commercial human spaceflight services for government and commercial customers. To learn more about CCP and its industry partners, visit www.nasa.gov/commercialcrew. Image credit: NASA/Ken Ulbrich
Sierra Nevada Corporation, or SNC, team members prepare for 60 mph tow tests of the company’s Dream Chaser flight vehicle on taxi and runways at NASA’s Dryden Flight Research Center at Edwards Air Force Base in California. Ground testing at 10, 20, 40 and 60 miles per hour is helping the company validate the performance of the spacecraft’s braking and landing systems prior to captive-carry and free-flight tests scheduled for later this year. SNC is continuing the development of its Dream Chaser spacecraft under the agency’s Commercial Crew Development Round 2, or CCDev2, and Commercial Crew Integrated Capability, or CCiCap, phases, which are intended to lead to the availability of commercial human spaceflight services for government and commercial customers. To learn more about CCP and its industry partners, visit www.nasa.gov/commercialcrew. Image credit: NASA/Ken Ulbrich
Sierra Nevada Corporation, or SNC, team members prepare for 60 mph tow tests of the company’s Dream Chaser flight vehicle on taxi and runways at NASA’s Dryden Flight Research Center at Edwards Air Force Base in California. Ground testing at 10, 20, 40 and 60 miles per hour is helping the company validate the performance of the spacecraft’s braking and landing systems prior to captive-carry and free-flight tests scheduled for later this year. SNC is continuing the development of its Dream Chaser spacecraft under the agency’s Commercial Crew Development Round 2, or CCDev2, and Commercial Crew Integrated Capability, or CCiCap, phases, which are intended to lead to the availability of commercial human spaceflight services for government and commercial customers. To learn more about CCP and its industry partners, visit www.nasa.gov/commercialcrew. Image credit: NASA/Ken Ulbrich
Sierra Nevada Corporation, or SNC, team members prepare for 60 mph tow tests of the company’s Dream Chaser flight vehicle on taxi and runways at NASA’s Dryden Flight Research Center at Edwards Air Force Base in California. Ground testing at 10, 20, 40 and 60 miles per hour is helping the company validate the performance of the spacecraft’s braking and landing systems prior to captive-carry and free-flight tests scheduled for later this year. SNC is continuing the development of its Dream Chaser spacecraft under the agency’s Commercial Crew Development Round 2, or CCDev2, and Commercial Crew Integrated Capability, or CCiCap, phases, which are intended to lead to the availability of commercial human spaceflight services for government and commercial customers. To learn more about CCP and its industry partners, visit www.nasa.gov/commercialcrew. Image credit: NASA/Ken Ulbrich
A pickup truck pulls the Sierra Nevada Corporation, or SNC, Dream Chaser flight vehicle through 60 mile per hour tow tests on taxi and runways at NASA’s Dryden Flight Research Center at Edwards Air Force Base in California. Ground testing at 10, 20, 40 and 60 miles per hour is helping the company validate the performance of the spacecraft’s braking and landing systems prior to captive-carry and free-flight tests scheduled for later this year. SNC is continuing the development of its Dream Chaser spacecraft under the agency’s Commercial Crew Development Round 2, or CCDev2, and Commercial Crew Integrated Capability, or CCiCap, phases, which are intended to lead to the availability of commercial human spaceflight services for government and commercial customers. To learn more about CCP and its industry partners, visit www.nasa.gov/commercialcrew. Image credit: NASA/Ken Ulbrich
Sierra Nevada Corporation, or SNC, team members check the company’s Dream Chaser flight vehicle systems following a 60 mph tow test on taxi and runways at NASA’s Dryden Flight Research Center at Edwards Air Force Base in California. Ground testing at 10, 20, 40 and 60 miles per hour is helping the company validate the performance of the spacecraft’s braking and landing systems prior to captive-carry and free-flight tests scheduled for later this year. SNC is continuing the development of its Dream Chaser spacecraft under the agency’s Commercial Crew Development Round 2, or CCDev2, and Commercial Crew Integrated Capability, or CCiCap, phases, which are intended to lead to the availability of commercial human spaceflight services for government and commercial customers. To learn more about CCP and its industry partners, visit www.nasa.gov/commercialcrew. Image credit: NASA/Ken Ulbrich
A pickup truck releases the Sierra Nevada Corporation, or SNC, Dream Chaser flight vehicle during a 60 mile per hour tow test to validate the spacecraft’s brakes on taxi and runways at NASA’s Dryden Flight Research Center at Edwards Air Force Base in California. Ground testing at 10, 20, 40 and 60 miles per hour is helping the company validate the performance of the spacecraft’s braking and landing systems prior to captive-carry and free-flight tests scheduled for later this year. SNC is continuing the development of its Dream Chaser spacecraft under the agency’s Commercial Crew Development Round 2, or CCDev2, and Commercial Crew Integrated Capability, or CCiCap, phases, which are intended to lead to the availability of commercial human spaceflight services for government and commercial customers. To learn more about CCP and its industry partners, visit www.nasa.gov/commercialcrew. Image credit: NASA/Ken Ulbrich
Sierra Nevada Corporation, or SNC, team members check the company’s Dream Chaser flight vehicle systems following a 60 mph tow test on taxi and runways at NASA’s Dryden Flight Research Center at Edwards Air Force Base in California. Ground testing at 10, 20, 40 and 60 miles per hour is helping the company validate the performance of the spacecraft’s braking and landing systems prior to captive-carry and free-flight tests scheduled for later this year. SNC is continuing the development of its Dream Chaser spacecraft under the agency’s Commercial Crew Development Round 2, or CCDev2, and Commercial Crew Integrated Capability, or CCiCap, phases, which are intended to lead to the availability of commercial human spaceflight services for government and commercial customers. To learn more about CCP and its industry partners, visit www.nasa.gov/commercialcrew. Image credit: NASA/Ken Ulbrich
Sierra Nevada Corporation, or SNC, team members check the company’s Dream Chaser flight vehicle systems following a 60 mph tow test on taxi and runways at NASA’s Dryden Flight Research Center at Edwards Air Force Base in California. Ground testing at 10, 20, 40 and 60 miles per hour is helping the company validate the performance of the spacecraft’s braking and landing systems prior to captive-carry and free-flight tests scheduled for later this year. SNC is continuing the development of its Dream Chaser spacecraft under the agency’s Commercial Crew Development Round 2, or CCDev2, and Commercial Crew Integrated Capability, or CCiCap, phases, which are intended to lead to the availability of commercial human spaceflight services for government and commercial customers. To learn more about CCP and its industry partners, visit www.nasa.gov/commercialcrew. Image credit: NASA/Ken Ulbrich
Sierra Nevada Corporation’s, or SNC’s, Dream Chaser flight vehicle sports a pair of fuzzy dice during 60 mph tow tests at NASA’s Dryden Flight Research Center in California. Ground testing at 10, 20, 40 and 60 miles per hour is helping the company validate the performance of the spacecraft’s braking and landing systems prior to captive-carry and free-flight tests scheduled for later this year. SNC is continuing the development of its Dream Chaser spacecraft under the agency’s Commercial Crew Development Round 2, or CCDev2, and Commercial Crew Integrated Capability, or CCiCap, phases, which are intended to lead to the availability of commercial human spaceflight services for government and commercial customers. To learn more about CCP and its industry partners, visit www.nasa.gov/commercialcrew. Image credit: NASA/Ken Ulbrich
An Erickson Air-Crane helicopter lifts Sierra Nevada Corporation’s Dream Chaser flight vehicle during a captive-carry flight test. The test was a rehearsal for free flights at Edwards later this year. The spacecraft is under development in partnership with NASA’s Commercial Crew Program. Although the spacecraft is designed for crew members, the vehicle will not have anyone onboard during the free flights. Photo credit: NASA/Carla Thomas
An Erickson Air-Crane helicopter lifts Sierra Nevada Corporation’s Dream Chaser flight vehicle during a captive-carry flight test. The test was a rehearsal for free flights at Edwards later this year. The spacecraft is under development in partnership with NASA’s Commercial Crew Program. Although the spacecraft is designed for crew members, the vehicle will not have anyone onboard during the free flights. Photo credit: NASA/Carla Thomas
An Erickson Air-Crane helicopter lifts Sierra Nevada Corporation’s Dream Chaser flight vehicle during a captive-carry flight test. The test was a rehearsal for free flights at Edwards later this year. The spacecraft is under development in partnership with NASA’s Commercial Crew Program. Although the spacecraft is designed for crew members, the vehicle will not have anyone onboard during the free flights. Photo credit: NASA/Carla Thomas
Though declining to go into detail, SNC has confirmed that today’s accident occurred after Dream Chaser touched down. A problem with deployment of the left landing gear caused the vehicle to hit the runway hard and flip over rather than completing a smooth braking rollout.
The flight appeared normal up until the mishap occurred. Carried aloft by an Erickson Air Crane Sikorsky S-64 helicopter, Dream Chaser was released at 11:10 a.m. EDT from an altitude of approximately 12,400 feet. For the next three-quarters of a minute, the vehicle flew the same profile that the actual spacecraft will fly upon returning from orbit. Lacking propulsion, Dream Chaser descended at a 23 degree glideslope while lining up with the centerline of runway 22L at Edwards Air Force Base. The vehicle performed a nose pitch-up flare maneuver a few hundred feet above the runway and touched down at approximately 200 mph – nearly identical to a space shuttle landing.
According to Sierra Nevada, Dream Chaser performed well during those phases of the approach and landing test. According to a report by Spaceflight Now, Mark Sirangelo, Sierra Nevada’s corporate vice president for space systems, said the flight was “largely a successful test that had a nonflight issue on landing.”
“(T)he Dream Chaser spacecraft automated flight control system gently steered the vehicle to its intended glide slope,” Sierra Nevada announced in a media statement several hours after the test. “The vehicle adhered to the design flight trajectory throughout the flight profile. Less than a minute later, Dream Chaser smoothly flared and touched down on Edwards Air Force Base’s Runway 22L right on centerline. While there was an anomaly with the left landing gear deployment, the high-quality flight and telemetry data throughout all phases of the approach-and-landing test will allow SNC teams to continue to refine their spacecraft design.”
Sierra Nevada’s Dream Chaser Completes Its Second Captive Carry Test Flight
While Sierra Nevada has not yet provided specifics regarding the mishap, eyewitnesses reported that Dream Chaser flipped over on the runway while still in rollout and appeared to sustain noticeable damage, although it was not destroyed. A followup statement from NASA essentially confirmed these observations.
“No personnel were injured. Damage to property is being assessed,” said NASA in a statement released after Sierra Nevada’s. “Edwards Air Force Base emergency personnel responded to scene as a precaution. Support personnel are preparing the vehicle for transport to a hangar.”
Further details have not been forthcoming from either Sierra Nevada or NASA, although alleged witnesses and employees of the company have made generalized comments in online forums. (Editor’s Note: In the interest of accuracy and journalistic integrity, it is the policy of Zero-G News to not report as fact details that are rumor, third-party hearsay or provided unsolicited from non-verified sources such as on online forums and social media until that information has been vetted for accuracy. Zero-G News may not be first, but has also never had to publish a retraction or apology.)
A press conference is expected Tuesday when officials with Sierra Nevada will provide more information.
The Dream Chaser Space System is based on NASA Langley Research Center’s Horizontal Lander HL-20 lifting body design concept. The design builds on years of analysis and wind tunnel testing by Langley engineers during the 1980s and 1990s. Langley and SNC joined forces six years ago to update the HL-20 design in the Dream Chaser orbital crew vehicle. When operational, Sierra Nevada plans to launch Dream Chaser to low Earth orbit atop a human-rated United Launch Alliance Atlas V rocket.
SNC is working with NASA to develop Dream Chaser through the agency’s Commercial Crew Development Round 2 (CCDev2) and Commercial Crew Integrated Capability (CCiCap) initiatives. New commercial spaceflight capabilities being developed by NASA partners through these initiatives eventually could provide launch services to transport NASA astronauts to the International Space Station from U.S. soil.
“Unique public-private partnerships like the one between NASA and Sierra Nevada Corporation are creating an industry capable of building the next generation of rockets and spacecraft that will carry U.S. astronauts to the scientific proving ground of low-Earth orbit,” said William Gerstenmaier, NASA’s associate administrator for human exploration and operations last May. “NASA centers around the country paved the way for 50 years of American human spaceflight, and they’re actively working with our partners to test innovative commercial space systems that will continue to ensure American leadership in exploration and discovery.”
Sierra Nevada originally won NASA funding under an $80 million CCDev2 agreement, Optional milestones also were approved, valued at $26.5 million. Sierra Nevada was later awarded additional funding under NASA’s Commercial Crew Integrated Capability (CCiCap) initiative, bringing NASA’s total potential investment to $227.5 million.
Prior to today’s mishap, SNC was looking forward to completing its CCDev2 Space Act Agreement with NASA with a successful approach-and-landing free-flight test at Dryden. SNC was also on track to complete all 12 of its Commercial Crew Integrated Capability (CCiCap) milestones by the summer of 2014. What effect this accident will have on the company’s obligations to NASA and Dream Chaser development schedule remain to be seen, but delays can be expected, at least to give time to repair and re-fly the test vehicle.
Along with the flight tests at Dryden, Sierra Nevada is also working to meet the remaining milestone requirements of CCiCap:
Milestone 1: Program Implementation Plan Review
Success Criteria: Completion of the program implementation plan review.
Amount: $30M
Date: Aug 2012
Milestone 2: Integrated System Baseline Review
Success Criteria: Completion of the Integrated System Baseline Review.
Amount: $45M
Date: Oct 2012
Milestone 3: Integrated System Safety Analysis Review #1
Success Criteria: Completion of the SNC integrated System Safety Analysis Review #1.
Amount $20M
Date: Jan 2013
Milestone 4: Engineering Test Article Flight Testing
Success Criteria: Completion of ETA Free Flight test(s).
Amount $15M
Date: Apr 2013
Milestone 6: Integrated System Safety Analysis Review #2
Success Criteria: Completion of the SNC Integrated System Safety Analysis Review #2.
Amount $20M
Date: Oct 2013
Milestone 7: Certification Plan Review
Success Criteria: Completion of the Certification Plan Review.
Amount: $25M
Date: Nov 2013
Milestone 8: Wind Tunnel Testing
Success Criteria: Completion of the Wind Tunnel Testing.
Amount: $20M
Date: Feb 2014
Milestone 9: Risk Reduction and TRL Advancement Testing
Success Criteria: Completion of the risk reduction and TRL advancement testing.
Amount: $17M
Date: May 2014
Milestone 9a: Main Propulsion and RCS Risk Reduction and TRL Advancement Testing
Success Criteria: Completion of the Main Propulsion System and Reaction Control System risk
reduction and TRL advancement testing.
Amount: $8M
Date: May 2014
Additional milestones requested by Sierra Nevada include:
SNC Incremental Critical Design Review #1. NASA’s investment is $5 million and the milestone is planned to be accomplished in October 2013.
SNC Incremental Reaction Control System Testing #1. NASA’s investment is $10 million and the milestone is planned to be accomplished in July 2014.
More information on CCiCap, including redacted versions of the funded Space Act Agreements for Sierra Nevada and the other two competitors – Boeing and SpaceX – can be found at: http://commercialcrew.nasa.gov/page.cfm?ID=38.
(Matthew Travis / Zero-G News)
NASA Statement Regarding SNC Dream Chaser Free-Flight Test
During today’s free-flight approach-and-landing test of Sierra Nevada Corporation’s Dream Chaser spacecraft, the vehicle experienced an anomaly as it touched down on the Runway 22L at Edwards Air Force Base, Calif.
No personnel were injured. Damage to property is being assessed. Edwards Air Force Base emergency personnel responded to scene as a precaution. Support personnel are preparing the vehicle for transport to a hangar.
Sierra Nevada Corporation engineers, NASA Dryden Flight Research Center and U.S. Air Force representatives are looking into the anomaly that occurred. Sierra Nevada Corporation will release information as it becomes available at http://www.SNCDreamChaser.com.
Sierra Nevada Statement Regarding Today’s Test Flight Anomaly
Today, Sierra Nevada Corporation (SNC) performed its first free-flight approach-and-landing test of the Dream Chaser® spacecraft. The vehicle successfully released from its carrier aircraft, an Erickson Air-Crane helicopter, as planned at approximately 11:10 a.m. Pacific Standard Time. Following release, the Dream Chaser spacecraft automated flight control system gently steered the vehicle to its intended glide slope. The vehicle adhered to the design flight trajectory throughout the flight profile. Less than a minute later, Dream Chaser smoothly flared and touched down on Edwards Air Force Base’s Runway 22L right on centerline. While there was an anomaly with the left landing gear deployment, the high-quality flight and telemetry data throughout all phases of the approach-and-landing test will allow SNC teams to continue to refine their spacecraft design. SNC and NASA Dryden are currently reviewing the data. As with any space flight test program, there will be anomalies that we can learn from, allowing us to improve our vehicle and accelerate our rate of progress. Please continue to monitor, www.SNCDreamChaser.com, for more information.
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