Sierra Nevada Corporation's (SNC) and Dream Chaser® program partner, Lockheed Martin unveiled the Dream Chaser orbital spacecraft co...
The airframe will be used to conduct the first orbital launch of the Dream Chaser spacecraft in November, 2016, atop a United Launch Alliance Atlas V rocket.
Lockheed will transport the Dream Chaser airframe upon completion to SNC’s Louisville, Colorado, facility for final integration and assembly.
Lockheed is applying advanced 3D preform technology for joint assembly thereby reducing overall part and tooling count while saving time.
Lockheed also has role in Dream Chaser vehicle assembly, integration, environmental testing, ground support equipment, flight certification and spacecraft launch and recovery.
Lockheed Martin’s Fort Worth facility manufactures and assembles the F-35 Lighting II and the F-16 Fighting Falcon fighters.
SNC Dream Chaser is designed to be a reusable, human-rated lifting-body spacecraft with a commercial runway landing capability like the retired NASA space shuttle, providing safe, reliable and cost-effective crew and critical cargo transportation to and from low-Earth orbit (LEO) destinations, such as the International Space Station (ISS).
