The "Dream Chaser" space shuttle
According to the original plan, in 2024, the new United States cargo space shuttle "Dream Chaser" will carry out its first flight, go to the International Space Station to perform a cargo test flight, and autonomously return to horizontal landing. The launch was postponed to the first half of 2025 due to the fact that the space shuttle tests had not yet been completed.
The "Dream Chaser" space shuttle
Dream Chaser, a cargo shuttle (equivalent to a cargo spacecraft) developed by United States Sierra Space, is a reusable spacecraft with a 15-time reusable body and a disposable cargo compartment in the tail.
The "Dream Chaser" adopts a tandem two-cabin configuration, and the launch state is the tail cargo module of the "Shooting Star" and the "Dream Chaser" space shuttle from bottom to top. The Dream Chaser space shuttle is designed with a lifting body, equipped with thrusters developed in Sierra Space, with three different thrust modes, and an attitude control system (RCS) equipped with 26 engines for orbit control, attitude control, rendezvous and docking, propellant submersion, etc.
Schematic diagram of the "Dream Chaser" space shuttle docking at the space station
The spacecraft has a total length of 9 meters, a pressurized space of 33 cubic meters (including the space shuttle and cargo compartment), and is equipped with 3 external cargo installation points, with an upward capacity of more than 5,534 kg, of which about 5,000 kg of pressurized cargo, about 500 kg of non-pressurized cargo, and a downward capacity of more than 5,534 kg, of which the space shuttle carries more than 1,588 kg of cargo, and the cargo compartment carries more than 3,946 kg of cargo (re-entry destruction). In the preparation phase for launch, ground cargo loading can be as late as 24 hours before launch. The spacecraft uses a launch vehicle for vertical launch and horizontal glide landing, assisted docking and evacuation by a robotic arm, and supports a docking flight for 75 days (2.5 months).
The "Dream Chaser" space shuttle
On January 14, 2016, NASA United States announced the award of a second round of commercial replenishment services (CRS-2) contracts to three commercial space companies: SpaceX, Orbital ATK, and Sierra Nevada (now Sierra Space). SpaceX uses the Dragon cargo spacecraft, Orbital ATK uses the Cygnus cargo spacecraft, and Sierra Space uses the Dream Chaser cargo shuttle (between 2019 and 2024) to carry out at least seven ISS cargo replenishment missions. The "Dream Chaser" has a stronger capacity than the "Cygnus" and is close to the "Dragon" cargo spacecraft.
The Dream Chaser will be launched using a new launch vehicle, Vulcan, with wings folded and a fairing with a diameter of 5.4 meters and a height of 21.3 meters. Due to serious lags in development, the first flight of the Dream Chaser space shuttle has been repeatedly postponed, and according to the latest plan, the first flight will be carried out in May 2025, using the space shuttle Tenacity.
The "Dream Chaser" space shuttle
During the first mission, the Dream Chaser will travel more than 3,538 kilograms of cargo and will dock at the Earth-oriented port of the Unity or Harmony module of the International Space Station, where it will stay for about 45 days. After completing the mission, the Dream Chaser will glide to the runway of the launch and landing facility at the Kennedy Space Center for landing.
Author: Mulan Xingzhou