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NASA’s Next-Generation Spaceplane Passes Free Flight Test
Universe Today ^ | 11/14/2017 | Matt Williams

Posted on 11/14/2017 7:47:42 PM PST by BenLurkin

For the past ten years, the Sierra Nevada Corporation and NASA have been developing and testing this next-generation space vehicle. When it is ready, this vehicle will not only provide a more cost-effective way of servicing the ISS, it will also help restore domestic launch capability to the United States.

On Saturday, November 11th, the Dream Chaser passed an important milestone by conducting a successful free flight test. This took place at Edwards Air Force Base in California, and verified the spaceplane’s ability to glide and land autonomously. This, in addition to verifying several key avionic and flight systems, is a strong indication that the spaceplane will be capable of conducting runs to and from Low-Earth Orbit (LEO) in the near future.

This test involved the spaceplane being lifted to an altitude of 3,780 meters (12,400 feet) and then let go to glide freely. It then deployed its landing gears and touched down on the Edwards Air Force Base runway before coming to a full stop. This runway, it should be noted, is very similar to the Kennedy Space Center Shuttle Landing Facility runway that the Dream Chaser will land on once it is operational.

...

This flight test validated the performance of the Dream Chaser during what is arguably the most critical part of a mission – the approach and landing phase – which will be the final phase of future flights from the ISS. The ability to conduct automated landings is central to the spaceplane’s reusability,


TOPICS: Business/Economy
KEYWORDS: dreamchaser; edwardsafb; nasa; sierranevadacorp; snc; starliner
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1 posted on 11/14/2017 7:47:42 PM PST by BenLurkin
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To: BenLurkin

Space plane? Isn’t that what Xenu flew to Earth in?


2 posted on 11/14/2017 7:49:57 PM PST by Olog-hai ("No Republican, no matter how liberal, is going to woo a Democratic vote." -- Ronald Reagan, 1960)
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To: BenLurkin

We had something like that back in the day, all relegated to museums around the country


3 posted on 11/14/2017 7:50:48 PM PST by al baby (May the Forceps be with you Hi Mom Its a Joke friends)
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To: BenLurkin

4 posted on 11/14/2017 7:53:03 PM PST by gaijin (Basically Obama lawyers would blatantly make up some totally groundless allegation against a fat cas)
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To: BenLurkin

This looks like a 1950’s lifting body design. Everything old is new again.


5 posted on 11/14/2017 7:56:23 PM PST by SERKIT ("Blazing Saddles" explains it all.......)
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To: BenLurkin
Related image
6 posted on 11/14/2017 7:59:22 PM PST by ETL (Obama-Hillary, REAL Russia collusion! Uranium-One Deal, Missile Defense, Nukes. See my FR page)
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To: BenLurkin
Image result for next-generation space vehicle
7 posted on 11/14/2017 8:00:24 PM PST by ETL (Obama-Hillary, REAL Russia collusion! Uranium-One Deal, Missile Defense, Nukes. See my FR page)
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To: BenLurkin
Didn't NASA experiment with the "lifting body concept" way back there many years ago and give up on it?
If memory serves......
8 posted on 11/14/2017 8:07:41 PM PST by Fiddlstix (Warning! This Is A Subliminal Tagline! Read it at your own risk!(Presented by TagLines R US))
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To: BenLurkin
gifs website
9 posted on 11/14/2017 8:08:11 PM PST by ETL (Obama-Hillary, REAL Russia collusion! Uranium-One Deal, Missile Defense, Nukes. See my FR page)
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To: BenLurkin

Free? What is the usual fee for a test?


10 posted on 11/14/2017 8:09:55 PM PST by central_va (I won't be reconstructed and I do not give a damn.)
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To: BenLurkin
Sounds like a mere updating of the basic shuttle concept. Reusable glider. Meh.
11 posted on 11/14/2017 8:09:59 PM PST by hinckley buzzard
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gifs website
12 posted on 11/14/2017 8:11:29 PM PST by ETL (Obama-Hillary, REAL Russia collusion! Uranium-One Deal, Missile Defense, Nukes. See my FR page)
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To: ETL
M2-F3 Lifting Body, 1970 ("M" = Manned)


13 posted on 11/14/2017 8:11:49 PM PST by ProtectOurFreedom
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gifs website
14 posted on 11/14/2017 8:12:25 PM PST by ETL (Obama-Hillary, REAL Russia collusion! Uranium-One Deal, Missile Defense, Nukes. See my FR page)
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gifs website
15 posted on 11/14/2017 8:14:25 PM PST by ETL (Obama-Hillary, REAL Russia collusion! Uranium-One Deal, Missile Defense, Nukes. See my FR page)
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To: hinckley buzzard
...and with a bit more engineering, they'll be able to return it to orbit just two weeks after landing.

(it's a joke - that's how the Space Shuttle was originally sold)

16 posted on 11/14/2017 8:14:46 PM PST by ProtectOurFreedom
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gifs website
17 posted on 11/14/2017 8:15:44 PM PST by ETL (Obama-Hillary, REAL Russia collusion! Uranium-One Deal, Missile Defense, Nukes. See my FR page)
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18 posted on 11/14/2017 8:17:29 PM PST by ETL (Obama-Hillary, REAL Russia collusion! Uranium-One Deal, Missile Defense, Nukes. See my FR page)
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gifs website
19 posted on 11/14/2017 8:19:50 PM PST by ETL (Obama-Hillary, REAL Russia collusion! Uranium-One Deal, Missile Defense, Nukes. See my FR page)
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20 posted on 11/14/2017 8:23:57 PM PST by ETL (Obama-Hillary, REAL Russia collusion! Uranium-One Deal, Missile Defense, Nukes. See my FR page)
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