Free Republic
Browse · Search
General/Chat
Topics · Post Article

Skip to comments.

Sierra Nevada Clears Dream Chaser Space Plane Test Milestone
space.com ^ | January 6, 2018 08:17am ET | Jeff Foust, SpaceNews Writer |

Posted on 01/06/2018 6:49:38 PM PST by BenLurkin

In a statement, SNC said that NASA concluded that the Nov. 11 free flight of the Dream Chaser engineering test article, at Edwards Air Force Base in California, met or exceeded all the requirements of the company’s last remaining funded milestone in its Commercial Crew Integrated Capability (CCiCap) award from 2012.

During the flight test, the Dream Chaser was released from a helicopter at an altitude of about 3,750 meters and glided to an autonomous runway landing 60 seconds later, reaching a top speed of 530 kilometers per hour during its descent.

...

The milestone, formally known as Milestone 4B, was the last funded milestone in the CCiCap Space Act Agreement that SNC received from NASA in August 2012. The milestone is valued at $8 million, according to NASA documentation. The company has added additional unfunded milestones to that agreement, which SNC and NASA extended last year for five years, to support potential future development of a crewed version of Dream Chaser.

SNC now, though, is focused on developing the version of Dream Chaser  that will transport cargo to and from the International Space Station under a Commercial Resupply Services 2 contract awarded to SNC in January 2016. A critical design review for that version of the vehicle is scheduled for the middle of this year, although elements of the first orbital vehicle are already under construction to support a first launch in 2020.

(Excerpt) Read more at space.com ...


TOPICS: Business/Economy
KEYWORDS: 2018; 201801; dreamchaser; sierranevada; spaceplane; test

1 posted on 01/06/2018 6:49:38 PM PST by BenLurkin
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | View Replies]

To: BenLurkin

Examining the layout, diagram I am unable to find the requisite prayer rug that would have been a key requirement in 2012.


2 posted on 01/06/2018 7:04:00 PM PST by SuperLuminal (Where is another agitator for republicanism like Sam Adams when we need him?)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: BenLurkin

Guess this explains the X37B...


3 posted on 01/06/2018 8:13:57 PM PST by 1_Inch_Group (Country Before Party)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: BenLurkin

Thanks for posting.


4 posted on 01/06/2018 8:39:36 PM PST by Ernest_at_the_Beach
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Ernest_at_the_Beach

3,750 meters and glided to an autonomous runway landing 60 seconds later, reaching a top speed of 530 kilometers per hour

Whats with the Meters and Kilomerters BS.. last I checked we were (The USA) using FEET and MILES..jeezzs that pisses me off


5 posted on 01/06/2018 9:14:51 PM PST by Robe (A nation can survive its fools and even the ambitious. But it cannot survive treason from within.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 4 | View Replies]

To: Robe

After the Mars Climate Orbiter debacle, NASA fully converted to metric to go along with everyone else in space - including their suppliers.

http://articles.latimes.com/1999/oct/01/news/mn-17288


6 posted on 01/06/2018 9:33:00 PM PST by Spktyr (Overwhelmingly superior firepower and the willingness to use it is the only proven peace solution.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 5 | View Replies]

To: Robe

Or, in short: Space is metric now.


7 posted on 01/06/2018 9:33:23 PM PST by Spktyr (Overwhelmingly superior firepower and the willingness to use it is the only proven peace solution.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 5 | View Replies]

To: Robe

I locked on the same observation. Without being curious
enough to follow up I just assumed that the intended
audience is foreign.


8 posted on 01/07/2018 2:04:00 AM PST by Sivad (NorCal red turf)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 5 | View Replies]

To: BenLurkin

The first drop test (2013) suffered a last second landing gear issue, thus resembled NASA test pilot Bruce A. Peterson’s crash of the M2-F2 at Rogers Dry Lake at Edwards Air Force Base on Wednesday, 10 May 1967.

http://www.whiteeagleaerospace.com/a-bad-day-at-the-office/

https://pbs.twimg.com/media/CjXp1A7UUAAfaR1.jpg

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PBM61A7LEsk


9 posted on 01/07/2018 8:20:17 AM PST by Ozark Tom
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Robe

Regarding units of measurement, there are two types of countries:

Those that use metric, and those THAT HAVE BEEN TO THE MOON.

So boom!


10 posted on 01/08/2018 11:18:26 AM PST by T-Bone Texan
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 5 | View Replies]

Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.

Free Republic
Browse · Search
General/Chat
Topics · Post Article

FreeRepublic, LLC, PO BOX 9771, FRESNO, CA 93794
FreeRepublic.com is powered by software copyright 2000-2008 John Robinson