NASA’s Dream Chaser will ‘land and take off like a regular plane’

Image: NASA

A new class of spaceplanes will one day ferry astronauts into space. NASA believes the Dream Chaser is the first step in achieving that goal.

Since the retirement of NASA’s Space Shuttles, astronauts and various items get sent into space by strapping them onto rockets, like SpaceX’s Dragon spacecraft. Ultimately, the goal is to develop a reusable spacecraft that can land and take off like a regular plane.

Being developed by the Sierra Nevada Corporation (SNC), the Dream Chaser is being pegged as the successor of the Space Shuttle when it comes to carrying cargo and crew to the International Space Station (ISS). SNC is one of the companies awarded with a contract to bring cargo to the ISS from 2019 through 2024.

A vision of the Dream Chaser returning to earth from a space station. Image: NASA

Apart from handling delivery work, SNC says the Dream Chaser can do a variety of other tasks. These include satellite servicing and “active debris removal” or space trash cleanup.

Unlike the Space Shuttle, the Dream Chaser’s rudimentary wings are tilted upward at an angle. When re-entering the Earth’s atmosphere, it manages to “glide” into a landing, thanks to air pressure generated below the aircraft.

While only one-fourth the size of the Space Shuttle, Dream Chaser is able to carry up to seven crew members.

More tests will be conducted for Dream Chaser until the end of the year. JB

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