Dream Chaser spaceplane passes key NASA tests

Dream Chaser joint test confirms powered payload capabilities necessary for its inaugural mission to the International Space Station

US-based Sierra Space, a leading commercial space company and defence tech prime that is ‘Building a Platform in Space to Benefit Life on Earth’, has successfully completed and passed its ‘Joint Test 10B’ milestone in collaboration with NASA on the Dream Chaser spaceplane.

The test demonstrated several capabilities of Dream Chaser, including its ability to power-on, air-cool, and exchange data with multiple powered payloads inside its pressurised cabin. This is an important progression toward Dream Chaser’s planned mission to resupply the International Space Station (ISS).

Pablo Gonzalez, vice president of Crew & Cargo Transportation Systems at Sierra Space, said: “Tests like these are critical demonstrations of the capabilities of the Dream Chaser spaceplane and confirms our ability to handle specialised payloads such as vital scientific research that will be integral to our mission to the ISS.

“This milestone highlights Dream Chaser’s flexibility, reliability, and capability to meet the diverse needs of our payload customers – including NASA and commercial partners – and it brings us another step closer to launch.”

The successful completion of this milestone confirms that Dream Chaser will accommodate various payloads. The Joint Test 10B test demonstrated that Sierra Space can provide power within a specific voltage range and maintain the necessary environmental requirements for payloads.

Successful evaluation
It also ensured all vehicle and payload data are seen in both Sierra Space’s mission control room in Louisville, Colorado, and in the payload support control rooms at NASA’s Marshall Spaceflight Center (MSFC) in Huntsville, Alabama. During the Joint Test 10B, the test team successfully evaluated three key payloads, all of which are candidates for flight on DCC-1, the first official mission of Dream Chaser.

These payloads included: Polar — a cryogenic preservation system developed by the University of Alabama at Birmingham and managed by NASA’s Cold Stowage Lab and the University of Alabama at Birmingham. Polar — it is designed to preserve scientific samples aboard the ISS and other visiting spacecraft at temperatures ranging from -95°C to +10°C; Powered Ascent Utility Locker (PAUL) — a facility developed by Space Tango that holds two CubeLab experiments requiring power during ascent — these experiments often focus on biological research, such as cell and tissue cultures; and NASA’s Single Stowage Locker: A standard stowage system designed to carry experiments and other payloads in the Dream Chaser spaceplane.

Anne Currin, director of mission management at Space Tango, said: “Space Tango’s recent integration testing with the Sierra Space Dream Chaser went well and all teams were very happy with the results. We appreciate the steps the Sierra Space team has taken to get both the vehicle and Space Tango ready for a successful flight. It’s been exciting to see this come together as we count down to a maiden flight that is scheduled to increase access for payload delivery to the ISS.”

The tests took place at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida last month, with oversight from Sierra Space and NASA.