Dream Chaser

You can’t fly an inflatable module to space without bursting a few on Earth. Sierra Space watched its giant, 20-foot tall space station module explode in dramatic fashion, but the company wasn’t too stressed about it. In fact, it marked a successful test on the road to building the first commercial space station in low Earth orbit.Astronomers Could Soon Get Warnings When SpaceX Satellites Threaten Their ViewThe Colorado-based company carried out a burst test of a full-sized version of its Large Integrated Flexible…

Sierra Space fired up its spaceplane in its assembly facility for the first time, signifying that the Dream Chaser shuttle could soon be ready for its first mission to low Earth orbit.Astronomers Could Soon Get Warnings When SpaceX Satellites Threaten Their ViewThe Colorado-based company announced on Wednesday that it had successfully completed the first power-up of its Dream Chaser spaceplane. During the test, engineers simulated the power that would otherwise be generated by Dream Chaser’s solar arrays once the…

An artist’s rendering of Vulcan’s liftoff. Illustration: ULAUnited Launch Alliance is hoping that the Force will be with them on May 4, a date the company is hoping to launch its Vulcan heavy-lift rocket for the very first time. ULA chief executive Tory Bruno announced the tentative launch date for the Vulcan Centaur rocket during a call with reporters on Thursday, adding that the timing of the rocket’s first flight still depends on a few remaining tests of the rocket and its engines, and the delivery of its payloads,…

Conceptual view of the Orbital Reef space station. Image: Sierra SpaceThe scheduled retirement of the International Space Station in 2030 has put NASA under a lot of pressure to secure a replacement. The space agency has tapped several private companies to develop a solution, with a collaborative project from Blue Origin and Sierra Space recently passing a critical milestone. NASA, along with members from Sierra Space and Blue Origin, performed the Orbital Reef System Definition Review (SDR) in June and July. The space…

Artistic conception of Sierra Space’s upcoming Dream Chaser spaceplane. Image: Sierra SpaceSierra Space announced its plans yesterday to launch a spaceflight center and astronaut training academy, which is good news for all of the adults out there who never got to go to space camp as a kid.Colorado-based private space company Sierra Space announced yesterday its plans to build and operate the “world’s first fully integrated commercial human spaceflight center and astronaut training academy.” The academy will recruit and…