Dream Chaser - NASA коммерческий контракт с SpaceDev

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Запись пресс-конференции SNC-ULA

Sierra Nevada Corporation Live Stream

Sierra Nevada Corporation

Трансляция началась 43 минуты назад

(41:45)

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https://www.sncorp.com/press-releases/snc-ula-dream-chaser-launch-announcement/
https://www.ulalaunch.com/about/news/2019/08/14/snc-selects-ula-for-dream-chaser-spacecraft-launches

SNC Selects ULA for Dream Chaser® Spacecraft Launches
NASA Missions to Begin in 2021

SPARKS, Nev. (August 14, 2019) – Sierra Nevada Corporation (SNC), the global aerospace and national security leader owned by Chairwoman and President Eren Ozmen and CEO Fatih Ozmen, selected United Launch Alliance (ULA) as the launch vehicle provider for the Dream Chaser® spacecraft's six NASA missions to the International Space Station.  The Dream Chaser will launch aboard ULA's Vulcan Centaur rockets for its cargo resupply and return services to the space station, starting in 2021.

"Dream Chaser can launch from any conventional rocket so we had great options," said SNC CEO Fatih Ozmen.  "SNC selected ULA because of our strong collaboration on the Dream Chaser program, their proven safety record and on-time performance.  This is bringing America's spaceplane and America's rocket together for best-of-breed innovation and exploration."

Under NASA's Commercial Resupply Services 2 (CRS-2) contract, the Dream Chaser will deliver more than 12,000 pounds of pressurized and unpressurized cargo to the space station and remains attached for up to 75 days as an orbiting laboratory.  Once the mated mission is complete, the Dream Chaser disposes about 7,000 pounds of space station trash and returns large quantities of critical science, accessible within minutes after a gentle runway landing.

SNC's Louisville, Colorado-based Space Systems division is proudly partnering with Centennial, Colorado's ULA, boosting the already strong aerospace economic footprint in the state.

"In this very competitive launch vehicle market, we feel privileged that SNC chose to launch this block of six missions to the ISS with ULA," said Tory Bruno, ULA president and CEO. "This is one of the first contracts for our new Vulcan Centaur rocket, and the first of the six missions will serve as the rocket's second certification flight. We are excited to bring our more than 120 years of combined launch experience with our Atlas and Delta rockets, which build on a progressive history of technology development and advancement, to Vulcan Centaur."

Vulcan Centaur's flight proven design, coupled with innovative technology, is transforming the future of space launch. The new rocket will provide higher performance and greater affordability while continuing to deliver unmatched reliability and precision. Approximately 90 percent of all of Vulcan Centaur's components will be flown first on Atlas V missions, so that its first flight will have reduced risk. Vulcan Centaur is a new class of space launch vehicle with the performance of a heavy launch vehicle in just a single core.

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https://ria.ru/20190814/1557514457.html

К МКС запустят грузовой корабль Dream Chaser на новейшей ракете Vulcan
23:25 14.08.2019

ВАШИНГТОН, 14 авг - РИА Новости. Запуск шести грузовых многоразовых кораблей Dream Chaser к Международной космической станции (МКС) начиная с 2021 года будет осуществлять новейшая ракета-носитель Vulcan, сообщила в среду компания Sierra Nevada Corporation (SNC).

"SNC выбрала компанию ULA ввиду нашего тесного сотрудничества по программе Dream Chaser, проверенной безопасности и пунктуальности", - сообщил на пресс-конференции глава SNC Фати Озмен (Fatih Ozmen), компания вела прямую трансляцию брифинга.

По контракту с НАСА, создаваемый Sierra Nevada многоразовый крылатый корабль Dream Chaser должен совершить по меньшей мере шесть грузовых миссий на МКС. Корабль должен не только доставлять грузы на орбиту, но также возвращать их с МКС на Землю.

Как в свою очередь рассказал глава компании ULA Торри Бруно, контракт с SNC станет одним из первых для новейшей ракеты Vulcan Centaur и "дебютным коммерческим стартом". "Мы вас не подведем", - сказал Бруно на конференции по случают достижения контракта, стоимость которого осталась неизвестна.

Глава ULA сообщил, что запуск Dream Chaser станет "вторым сертификационным полетом" для ракеты Vulcan. Между тем он не исключил, что в случае изменений в графике введения ракеты в эксплуатацию полеты может совершить ракета-носитель Atlas-5. "План осуществить все шесть миссий на ракете Vulcan, но Atlas-5 также может быть заменой ... Если что-то (непредвиденное) возникнет, мы обеспечим все необходимое, чтобы вы стартовали по мере вашей готовности", - сказал глава ULA. Он сообщил, что Vulcan должна быть готова к полетам в начале 2021 года. Он пояснил, что до этого времени различные части новейшей ракеты будут интегрироваться на ракету Atlas, что позволит испытать Vulcan до начала ее фактических полетов.

Ранее источник в ракетно-космической отрасли РФ сообщал РИА Новости, что первый запуск американского многоразового крылатого грузового корабля Dream Chaser на МКС планируется в сентябре 2021 года, а вывод корабля на орбиту осуществит ракета-носитель Atlas-5 с российским двигателем РД-180 на первой ступени.

ULA создает Vulcan на смену Atlas-5, первая ступень новейшей РН будет обеспечена жидкостным двигателем BE-4, который разрабатывает компания Blue Origin.

Как заявили на пресс-конференции представители компании Sierra Nevada, компания продолжает работу над созданием пилотируемой версии Dream Chaser и не исключает, что корабль будет совершать полеты в том числе на орбиту Луны.

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 Brendan Byrne‏ Подлинная учетная запись @SpaceBrendan 4 ч. назад
Have you solidified where the Dream Chaser will land? @SierraNevCorp #AskSNCDreamChaser

 Sierra Nevada Corporation‏ Подлинная учетная запись @SierraNevCorp 2 ч. назад
The planned landing runway for all the Dream Chaser CRS2 landings is Kennedy Space Center Shuttle Landing Facility in Florida.

 Nathan Barker‏ @NASA_Nerd 12 мин. назад
After launching atop of ULA's new Vulcan rocket, SNC's Dream Chaser will make its return home and land on KSC's 15,000 foot long Shuttle Landing Facility. https://twitter.com/SierraNevCorp/status/1161740290748645376 ...

[Евгений Кравченко]

Милый семейный бизнес...

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https://spaceflightnow.com/2019/08/14/sierra-nevada-selects-ulas-vulcan-rocket-to-launch-dream-chaser-missions/

Sierra Nevada selects ULA's Vulcan rocket to launch Dream Chaser missions
August 14, 2019 | Stephen Clark


The Vulcan Centaur rocket configured to launch Sierra Nevada's Dream Chaser spaceplane will fly with a dual-engine Centaur upper stage and four strap-on solid rocket boosters. Credit: United Launch Alliance

Sierra Nevada Corp. has booked at least six launches on United Launch Alliance's new Vulcan Centaur rocket to carry Dream Chaser supply ships into orbit on cargo runs to the International Space Station beginning in 2021, becoming the first confirmed customer for ULA's next-generation launcher.

The first of the six Dream Chaser resupply missions to the space station is scheduled for launch in late 2021 from Cape Canaveral on the second flight of ULA's Vulcan Centaur rocket, which is scheduled to debut earlier that year.

"This is a very competitive launch market nowadays, and to be selected by SNC to fly this block of missions on our Vulcan launch vehicle is just a tremendous honor, and we are very grateful," said Tory Bruno, ULA's chief executive, in a press conference Wednesday at Sierra Nevada's Space Systems division headquarters in Louisville, Colorado.

Sierra Nevada previously contracted with ULA for two Dream Chaser launches on Atlas 5 rockets. Those two launch reservations have been converted to Vulcan missions, and an additional four Dream Chaser missions are now reserved to fly on the Vulcan Centaur rocket.

The long relationship between the companies was a key factor in Sierra Nevada's decision to secure additional launches with ULA, Sierra Nevada officials said.

"I think ULA had a pretty significant advantage because we had been working with ULA from day one," said Eren Ozmen, owner and president of SNC. "Not to mention that we had a really competitive price."

"We had five different launch providers that we worked (with) very closely, in Japan and Europe, and also obviously Elon Musk (SpaceX) and Jeff Bezos (Blue Origin)," Ozmen said. "They were all part of our selection criteria. They all had really good capabilities.

"At the end of the day, it was just really both our personal relationships and the capabilities and the competitive price, (so) ULA got the contract," she said.

"Track record is important," said Fatih Ozmen, SNC's owner and CEO. "(ULA has a) flawless track record so far on Atlas 5, and that culture is very telling for what can come in the future, so that was a big factor as well."

Sierra Nevada and ULA did not disclose financial terms of the contract, but officials said ULA's Atlas 5 rocket will remain available as a backup option to launch Dream Chaser missions in case the Vulcan's development encounters delays.

"We're on time with Vulcan, but if something should arise, we're going to make sure that you fly when you're ready," Bruno said in Wednesday's press conference alongside Sierra Nevada officials.

The first Vulcan launch is scheduled for early 2021. Bruno previously said ULA aims to find a commercial customer for the inaugural Vulcan flight, but the launch provider has not announced a contract for the Vulcan's first launch.

In the meantime, ULA is introducing several of the upgrades that will fly on the Vulcan rocket in a stepwise fashion on the Atlas 5 rocket it will replace. The Vulcan rocket will use the same payload fairing design and avionics systems already flying on the Atlas 5. ULA is set to begin flying a dual-engine Centaur upper stage on the Atlas 5 rocket later this year, and the company will introduce new Northrop Grumman-built strap-on boosters to the Atlas 5 next year to replace solid-fueled booster motors made by Aerojet Rocketdyne.

"All of the major elements of Vulcan, its payload fairing, its solid rocket motors, its avionics, its software, are going to be feathered in on Atlas flights between now and then, so that by the time we actually fly (Vulcan), everything but the first stage engine — the new BE-4 — will have actually been flown several times," Bruno said.

Two BE-4 engines, built by Blue Origin, will power each Vulcan first stage. The BE-4 engine burns methane and liquid oxygen.

[свернуть]

Artist's illustration of a Dream Chaser spacecraft in orbit, with solar panels and a rear-mounted cargo module. Credit: Sierra Nevada Corp.

The lifting body Dream Chaser spaceship is designed to take off on top of a conventional rocket and land in a runway like the space shuttle. The reusable commercial cargo vehicle can deliver around 12,100 pounds (5,500 kilograms) of scientific experiments, hardware and crew supplies to the space station on each unpiloted mission.

"Dream Chaser is really challenging the status quo ... because it is the only privately-owned commercial spaceplane in the world that exists that is runway landing-capable and reusable," said Fatih Ozmen, SNC's owner and CEO.

The Dream Chaser will will max out at approximately 20 tons when fully fueled at launch. The 30-foot-long (9-meter) spacecraft — about a quarter the length of a space shuttle orbiter — will launch inside the Vulcan rocket's nose fairing, with wings and solar panels folded up to fit inside the Vulcan payload envelope.

NASA awarded Sierra Nevada a commercial cargo contract, alongside incumbent cargo transportation providers SpaceX and Northrop Grumman Innovation Systems, in January 2016 to meet the space station's logistics needs through 2024. Each cargo transportation provider is guaranteed at least six resupply missions under the Commercial Resupply Services-2 contract.

SNC officials also touted their selection of ULA's Vulcan rocket as giving NASA's space station program a different launch vehicle for cargo missions. SpaceX launches its Dragon supply ships on the company's own Falcon 9 rockets, while Northrop Grumman's Antares launcher carries Cygnus cargo freighters into orbit.

SpaceX and Northrop Grumman's Dragon and Cygnus supply ships are based on capsule designs. SpaceX's Dragon returns cargo to Earth with parachute-assisted splashdowns at sea, while the Cygnus spacecraft serves as a trash disposal vehicle and breaks up in the atmosphere at the end of each mission.

Sierra Nevada's Dream Chaser fills both roles.

Originally designed for astronauts, the spaceplane will return roughly 4,000 pounds (1,850 kilograms) of cargo to Earth with a runway landing, following a re-entry profile that is more gentle than the steeper returns of capsule vehicles. Sierra Nevada's six CRS-2 missions returning from the space station will touch down at NASA's Shuttle Landing Facility at the Kennedy Space Center in Florida.

A separate pressurized module, designed to burn up during re-entry, will also accommodate up to 7,400 pounds (3,400 kilograms) of cargo for disposal. The cargo module will jettison from the Dream Chaser spaceplane before entering the atmosphere.

John Curry, Sierra Nevada's CRS-2 Dream Chaser program director, said major elements of the company's first spaceplane that will fly to the space station are making progress in fabrication.

The primary structure of the first orbit-ready Dream Chaser spaceplane will soon be delivered to SNC's Louisville facility for final assembly. Curry said the delivery of the airframe from Lockheed Martin, which constructed the structure at its Fort Worth aircraft factory, is expected "in the next month or so."

The cargo module that will mount to the rear of the Dream Chaser spaceplane is also nearing completion. That element is built by Applied Composites in San Diego, Curry said.

The Dream Chaser's rocket thrusters are also undergoing tests. The spaceplane's propulsion system will consist of 26 engines capable of firing at three different thrust settings to control the ship's attitude and adjust its orbit

Curry said the thrusters aboard the Dream Chaser will consume RP-1 kerosene and hydrogen peroxide, an unusual propellant mixture for in-space rocket engines, which typically burn toxic hydrazine fuel.

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Dream Chaser will be launched by Vulcan Centaur rockets

 SciNews

Опубликовано: 14 авг. 2019 г.

(2:11)

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Sierra Nevada Corporation‏ @SierraNevCorp 15 ч. назад

It's here! The primary structure for Dream Chaser® spacecraft!
Check out this drone footage of her arrival to our CO facilities in the snow - so exciting! We're hosting a press conference Tuesday at 10am MT. Watch here: http://bit.ly/31fQr3q .


25 мин. назад

It's an important day for the Dream Chaser® spacecraft! Our primary structure is here & we're so excited to share more about it! Watch our 10am MT press conference today to learn more- http://bit.ly/31fQr3q .

Трансляция на ТыТрубе

youtube.com/watch?v=206KQCRxjGk

Начало трансляции: 18:00 ДМВ

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Одним из немногих достоинств проекта ДримЧэйзера было отсутствие головного обтекателя .
Но  вот и оно пропало.

[Alex_II]

azvoz написал:
Одним из немногих достоинств проекта ДримЧэйзера было отсутствие головного обтекателя .

Основное его достоинство - то, что он садится на взлетно-посадочную полосу... И оно-то от него никуда не денется...

[azvoz]

Alex_II написал:
 

azvoz написал:
Одним из немногих достоинств проекта ДримЧэйзера было отсутствие головного обтекателя .

Основное его достоинство - то, что он садится на взлетно-посадочную полосу... И оно-то от него никуда не денется...

Надо же - у шаттла тоже было это "достоинство".  И где теперь его достоинство?

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Chris B - NSF‏ @NASASpaceflight 7 мин. назад

The Primary Structure for Dream Chaser for the first cargo run to the ISS has arrived at SNC from Lockheed Martin:

https://forum.nasaspaceflight.com/index.php?topic=29416.920 ...

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Jeff Foust‏ @jeff_foust 12 мин. назад

Sierra Nevada Corp is unveiling the structure for its first Dream Chaser vehicle this morning. Some assembly still required. – Sierra Nevada Corp




1 мин. назад

John Roth of SNC says this delivery is a major event for two reasons:

1. this structure one of the most complex aerospace all-composite structures
2. kicks off final assembly, integration and test ahead of late 2021 launch.

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