Private spaceflight firm Sierra Nevada has sent its Dream Chaser vehicle on a successful gliding and landing mission, after being launched via helicopter from the Edwards Air Force Base in southern California. The free-flight test has confirmed the vehicle's landing capabilities, allowing Sierra Nevada to further develop it for release. Back in 2010, NASA awarded the company $20 million to develop the Dream Chaser as a crewed vehicle, and Sierra Nevada did a ton of tests over the next couples of years to prepare the spacecraft for carrying passengers. " The Dream Chaser's first glide was an amazing success," said Mark Sirangelo, president of Sierra Nevada. At present, only SpaceX and Orbital ATK have contracts for NASA supplies but Sierra Nevada will be able to participate from 2019 to 2024.
Private spaceflight firm Sierra Nevada has sent its Dream Chaser vehicle on a successful gliding and landing mission, after being launched via helicopter from the Edwards Air Force Base in southern California. The free-flight test has confirmed the vehicle's landing capabilities, allowing Sierra Nevada to further develop it for release. "The Dream Chaser's first glide was an amazing success," said Mark Sirangelo, president of Sierra Nevada. At present, only SpaceX and Orbital ATK have contracts for NASA supplies but Sierra Nevada will be able to participate from 2019 to 2024.