Private aerospace company 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 will shortly be used for cargo missions to the International Space Station as part of NASA ’s commercial space programme . But in 2014, NASA didn’t pick the Dream Chaser to do crewed flights to the ISS, going with SpaceX and Boeing’s proposed vehicles instead. 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 aerospace company 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 will shortly be used for cargo missions to the International Space Station as part of NASA ’s commercial space programme . At present , only SpaceX and Orbital ATK have contracts for NASA supplies but Sierra Nevada will be able to participate from 2019 to 2024 .