Dream Chaser spaceplane set to get wings

Sierra Nevada Corporation (SNC), the global aerospace and national security leader owned by Eren and Fatih Ozmen, uncrated both wings for its Dream Chaser spaceplane this month at the company's Louisville, Colorado production facility.

The wings' arrival kicks off the much-anticipated integration phase of a beautiful and critical differentiator for Dream Chaser, the world's only spaceplane owned by a private company and under contract with NASA.

"The wings are here and now we truly have butterflies in anticipation of this integration phase for Dream Chaser," said SNC President Eren Ozmen.

"Our spaceplane looks and functions unlike anything else in space - more technologically advanced but with all the heritage of the space shuttle program in its design. Dream Chaser's first flight will be a soaring moment for all of us."

The arrival kicks off the integration of the complex Wing Deployment System (WDS) as part of the continued assembly and integration of the vehicle. With their innovative folding design, the wings are stowed in the fairing ahead of launch.

After the launch vehicle separates, the WDS deploys the wings and locks them into place. Dream Chaser's steeply angled wings function as stabilizers for the lift generated by the body of the vehicle.

"The wings for Dream Chaser presented an interesting design challenge," said Dream Chaser program director John Curry. "Not only must they survive in low-Earth orbit like a satellite, but they need to be operational in Earth's atmosphere, like an aircraft."

Just like the structural body for Dream Chaser, the wings were manufactured by Lockheed Martin in Texas, a subcontractor to SNC, and are single bonded composite structures. This state-of-the-art technology saves weight without compromising strength and stiffness.

Dream Chaser is under contract with NASA for at least six cargo resupply and return service missions to the International Space Station under the Commercial Resupply Services 2 (CRS-2) contract.

The Dream Chaser and attached Shooting Star transport vehicle can carry up to 12,000 pounds of supplies and other cargo, and returns delicate science to Earth with a gentle runway landing.

Related Links
Sierra Nevada Corporation
Rocket Science News at Space-Travel.Com

Tweet

Thanks for being there;
We need your help. The SpaceDaily news network continues to grow but revenues have never been harder to maintain.

With the rise of Ad Blockers, and Facebook - our traditional revenue sources via quality network advertising continues to decline. And unlike so many other news sites, we don't have a paywall - with those annoying usernames and passwords.

Our news coverage takes time and effort to publish 365 days a year.

If you find our news sites informative and useful then please consider becoming a regular supporter or for now make a one off contribution.

SpaceDaily Monthly Supporter
$5+ Billed Monthly

paypal only

SpaceDaily Contributor
$5 Billed Once

credit card or paypal

Russia starts adapting RD-180 engine used in US for super-heavy Yenisei Rocket
Moscow (Sputnik) Apr 22, 2020
Russia's Energomash rocket engine manufacturer, which is part of state space corporation Roscosmos, has started to adapt RD-180 engines, which have been in use for US Atlas carrier rockets, and the medium-class Soyuz-6 and super-heavy Yenisei launch vehicles, Energomash Director General Igor Arbuzov has said. "The RD-180 engine, which has unique flight statistics, will be used in the first stage of the Soyuz-6 rocket, which can replace the Soyuz-2 medium-class launch vehicle in the future, as well ... read more