NASA will soon begin testing the Dream Chaser, the first commercial spaceplane capable of orbital flight.
The aircraft will be used to replenish supplies at the International Space Station. Sierra Space’s Dream Chaser will be an alternative to SpaceX’s spacecraft.
The aircraft will be tested at NASA’s Ohio Test Site for one to three months. The tests will include vibration, acoustic and temperature tests to ensure that the Dream Chaser can withstand the conditions of a rocket launch.
If the tests are successful, Dream Chaser will make its first flight into space in April. The aircraft can deliver up to 5.5 tons of cargo to the ISS and return up to 2 tons to Earth. Sierra Space also plans to develop a manned version of the Dream Chaser by 2026.
