NASA Kennedy Space Center's transformation into a multi-user spaceport,
Sierra Nevada Corporation (SNC) of Louisville, CO announced Thursday
steps it will take to prepare for a November 2016 orbital flight of its
Dream Chaser spacecraft from Florida's Space Coast.
The announcement included the purchase of an Atlas V rocket from United
Launch Alliance (ULA) for the launch, sharing the Operations and
Checkout (O&C) development and testing facility with Lockheed Martin
Space Systems, establishing an operation center at Kennedy Space Center
and using the former Shuttle Landing Facility (SLF) runway at Kennedy.
The steps are considered substantial for SNC and important to plans by
NASA and Space Florida for Kennedy's new availability to both commercial
and government customers.
SNC said it plans to work with ULA to launch the company's winged Dream
Chaser spacecraft into orbit from Space Launch Complex 41 at Cape
Canaveral Air Force Station. "SNC is thrilled to confirm a launch date
for our country’s return to orbital human spaceflight and the restart of
human spaceflight operations from Florida’s Space Coast," said Mark
Sirangelo, corporate vice president and head of SNC’s Space Systems. "We
could not have done this without the spirit and engagement from our
national and state governments, the best aerospace companies in the
industry, and several major universities, which all hail from over 30
states. Together these passionate people will return our astronauts to
space on American spacecraft and rockets launched from America’s space
coast right here in Florida."
Cabana said SNC's involvement with the Florida spaceport shows the
conversion to a 21st Century spaceport is succeeding, although work
remains to keep the transformation on pace. "We are honored that Sierra
Nevada Corporation has reserved a proven Atlas V to launch its first
flight test in 2016,” said Michael Gass, United Launch Alliance
president and CEO. “With 42 successful missions spanning a decade of
operational service, the commercially-developed Atlas V is uniquely
qualified to provide launch services for the Crew Transportation System.
Because Atlas is already certified by NASA to fly the nation’s most
complex exploration missions, ULA is able to provide a wealth of flight
data, design implementation, detailed system and sub-system analysis,
qualification and certification documentation to support the Atlas V for
human spaceflight."
The Dream Chaser spacecraft is deep into development of flight
hardware and specific plans ranging from ground support equipment to
what to include in a mission operations center. "I had the privilege of
piloting and commanding five space shuttle flights as a NASA astronaut,"
said Steve Lindsey, former NASA astronaut and SNC’s senior director and
Dream Chaser program manager. "This included the last flight of
Discovery which was processed, launched, and on March 9, 2011, made its
final landing at the SLF after 39 flights and 148 million space miles.
Mark, the entire SNC Dream Chaser team, and I look forward to seeing
Dream Chaser continue this legacy from Discovery when it flies in 2016."
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