The Space Shuttle Orbiter was a legendary part of human space exploration, but since it retired in 2011, nothing quite like it has taken to the skies. Now, engineers at Sierra Nevada Corporation in Colorado are working on a new space plane called Dream Chaser. This innovative vehicle is part of NASA’s Commercial Resupply Services 2 program, joining other spacecraft like SpaceX’s Dragon and Northrop Grumman’s Cygnus, which deliver supplies to the International Space Station (ISS).
Dream Chaser stands out because it looks and lands like a plane. This design allows it to be reused at least 15 times, making it cost-effective and quick to prepare for new missions. Its versatility is impressive; it can land on regular runways, carry different types of cargo, support a microgravity lab, and even dispose of waste from the ISS.
Dream Chaser is a “lifting-body” spacecraft, meaning it generates lift from the air pressure on its wide, flat body rather than relying on wings. This design includes heat-resistant tiles and a special material called ‘TUFROC’, allowing it to glide back to Earth without needing extra power. This gentle glide means less gravitational force during reentry, making it safer for sensitive experiments on board.
Unlike older space shuttles, Dream Chaser uses a nontoxic fuel, allowing it to land anywhere a Boeing 737 can. Its engine, the Vortex, is low-cost and uses less harmful fuels, enabling a quick turnaround after landing. Dream Chaser can carry up to 5,500 kilograms of cargo, making it the largest cargo carrier compared to Dragon and Cygnus. It also has a separate module for waste disposal, which burns up upon reentry.
Dream Chaser can return up to 1,800 kilograms of scientific work, including experiments conducted during its descent. It can act as a temporary space lab, either docked to the ISS or while experiencing microgravity on its way back to Earth. This capability allows scientists to gather data quickly without waiting for months for another cargo mission.
The Dream Chaser team has worked hard to reach this point. Inspired by past lifting-body planes, the design gained momentum when NASA sought private companies to develop ‘space taxis’ for astronauts. Although initially designed for crewed missions, Dream Chaser was redesigned as a cargo vehicle after NASA chose SpaceX and Boeing for crew contracts in 2014. SNC secured a contract to fly six missions to the ISS through 2024.
As of 2019, Dream Chaser is making significant progress, with the version set to fly being assembled. It will launch atop ULA’s new Vulcan Centaur rocket, with plans to start delivering cargo in 2021. This next-generation space plane could become a new icon of human spaceflight for years to come.
If you enjoyed learning about Dream Chaser, be sure to explore more about upcoming rocket launches and space exploration. Stay curious and keep reaching for the stars!
Imagine you are an engineer at Sierra Nevada Corporation. Design your own version of a space plane like Dream Chaser. Consider its shape, materials, and features. Draw your design and write a short paragraph explaining how it would work and what makes it unique.
Research another spacecraft, such as SpaceX’s Dragon or Northrop Grumman’s Cygnus. Create a comparison chart that highlights the differences and similarities between Dream Chaser and the spacecraft you chose. Focus on aspects like design, cargo capacity, and mission capabilities.
Work in groups to simulate a mission to the International Space Station using Dream Chaser. Assign roles such as mission commander, engineer, and scientist. Plan the mission objectives, cargo, and timeline. Present your mission plan to the class, explaining how Dream Chaser’s features support your mission.
Write and present a news report about the upcoming launch of Dream Chaser. Include details about its design, mission goals, and the significance of its role in space exploration. Record your report as a video or perform it live for the class.
Conduct a simple experiment to understand how lift works. Use paper airplanes to explore how different shapes and weights affect flight. Relate your findings to Dream Chaser’s lifting-body design and discuss why this design is beneficial for space missions.
The Space Shuttle Orbiter is an iconic symbol of human space exploration, and we haven’t seen anything like its unique design since its retirement in 2011. Now, at Sierra Nevada Corporation’s facility in Colorado, engineers are in the early stages of assembling the new space plane, known as Dream Chaser. This vehicle is one of NASA’s Commercial Resupply Services 2 contract recipients and will join the fleet of utility spacecraft like SpaceX’s Dragon capsule and Northrop Grumman’s Cygnus module, which are responsible for transporting cargo to the International Space Station.
One key difference is that Dream Chaser is shaped like a plane, and SNC aims to land it back to Earth just like one. This design allows for the space plane to be reused 15 times or more, which reduces costs and enables quick turnaround between missions. What makes Dream Chaser particularly appealing is its versatility; it can land on runways used for passenger planes, carry various loads of cargo, support a microgravity lab, and dispose of waste from the ISS.
Dream Chaser features an aerodynamic structure known as a “lifting-body” spacecraft. In typical aircraft, the wings create lift, but with Dream Chaser, lift is generated from air pressure on the underside of its wide, flat body, which is equipped with heat-resistant silica-based tiles and a new material called ‘TUFROC’. This design allows Dream Chaser to return to Earth from missions with a steady glide, requiring no extra power.
Lifting-body spacecraft experience less gravitational force during reentry, with a maximum of 1.5 gs, making landing easier on sensitive scientific experiments onboard. Additionally, gliding allows for a runway touchdown instead of a water landing. The plane uses a nontoxic propellant, enabling it to land anywhere a Boeing 737 can.
Dream Chaser will utilize SNC’s upper-stage Vortex engine, which is low-cost and uses less toxic fuels that ignite at high altitudes. Since the chemicals involved are non-toxic, there can be an immediate turnaround once it lands. In contrast, older space shuttle orbiters that used hydrazine required a waiting period before personnel could approach the vehicle.
Notably, Dream Chaser can hold up to 5,500 kilograms of pressurized and unpressurized cargo, including food, water, and scientific experiments, making it the largest cargo carrier. In comparison, Dragon cargo missions have averaged around 1,500 kilograms of pressurized cargo, while Cygnus has a maximum load of 3,700 kilograms. Dream Chaser’s capacity is enhanced by a separate cargo module designed to carry about 3,400 kilograms of waste from the ISS, which will burn up upon descent.
Dream Chaser is also capable of returning up to 1,800 kilograms of work, including scientific experiments conducted during descent. It can serve as an intermittent space lab, either docked to the ISS or while experiencing microgravity on its way back to Earth. This allows experiments that don’t require long-duration space exposure to gather data immediately rather than waiting for months for another cargo mission.
You might be wondering why it has taken so long to reach this point. The Dream Chaser team has had a long journey. The design concept for this space plane was inspired by past lifting-body planes and gained momentum when NASA requested private companies to create ‘space taxis’ for ferrying astronauts to and from the ISS. Although SNC initially designed Dream Chaser as a crewed vehicle, NASA selected SpaceX and Boeing for commercial crew contracts in 2014. SNC then redesigned Dream Chaser as a cargo vehicle and secured a contract with NASA to fly six missions to the ISS through 2024.
As of 2019, Dream Chaser continues to pass milestones, and the version set to take to the skies is currently being assembled. When ready for take-off, it will be launched atop ULA’s new Vulcan Centaur rocket, with plans to begin ferrying cargo in 2021. This next-generation space plane may become a new icon of human spaceflight for years to come.
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Dream Chaser – A type of spacecraft designed to transport cargo and astronauts to and from space stations. – The Dream Chaser is being developed to provide reliable transportation to the International Space Station.
Space – The vast, seemingly infinite expanse that exists beyond Earth’s atmosphere, where stars, planets, and other celestial bodies are located. – Astronauts train for years to prepare for the challenges of living and working in space.
Plane – A flat, two-dimensional surface that extends infinitely in all directions, often used in physics to describe motion or forces. – In physics class, we learned how to calculate the force needed to move an object along a plane.
Cargo – Goods or materials that are transported, often by spacecraft, to support missions or research in space. – The spacecraft carried scientific cargo to the space station for various experiments.
Design – The process of planning and creating something with a specific function or purpose, often involving technical drawings and specifications. – Engineers spent months perfecting the design of the new satellite to ensure it could withstand the harsh conditions of space.
Lift – The upward force that opposes the weight of an object, allowing it to rise or remain in the air, crucial in the study of aerodynamics. – The wings of an airplane are designed to create lift, enabling it to fly.
Engine – A machine that converts energy into mechanical power, often used to propel vehicles like cars, airplanes, and rockets. – The rocket’s engine was powerful enough to launch it into orbit around Earth.
Fuel – A substance that is burned or consumed to produce energy, essential for powering engines and other machinery. – The spacecraft needed a special type of fuel to travel to the distant planet.
Experiments – Scientific tests conducted to discover new information or to test hypotheses, often performed in controlled environments like laboratories or space stations. – The astronauts conducted experiments on plant growth in microgravity to learn more about how plants might be grown in space.
Gravity – The force that attracts objects with mass toward each other, particularly the force that gives weight to objects on Earth and keeps planets in orbit around the sun. – Gravity is what keeps us grounded on Earth and causes objects to fall when dropped.
