Tue, Jan 08, 2008
Approves Flight Plan For Suborbital Testing
SpaceDev, Inc. tells ANN it recently completed its second
milestone under its Space Act Agreement that was signed with NASA
in June 2007. The significant milestone completed is the Flight
Test Plan for the Dream Chaser space vehicle.
The plan provides a detailed approach for the Dream Chaser to
conduct numerous suborbital flight tests, in preparation for its
first orbital flight later this decade.
SpaceDev entered into the Space Act Agreement with NASA to
facilitate its development of reliable, safe and affordable
transportation of passengers and cargo to and from Earth orbit. As
part of the agreement, NASA is providing support regarding ISS
visiting vehicle requirements and processes, as well as ongoing
quarterly milestone review meetings.
"The on schedule completion of our second milestone reaffirms
our commitment to the development of the Dream Chaser and to the
value of NASA's Space Act Agreement program. SpaceDev and NASA
teams are continuing to work well together to advance the Dream
Chaser launch vehicle," said Mark N. Sirangelo, SpaceDev's Chairman
and CEO. "SpaceDev is excited about completing another significant
technical milestone which enables us to forward our development
schedule."
The SpaceDev Dream Chaser space vehicle is a derivative of the
HL-20 Launch System developed by NASA Langley. The vehicle has
on-board propulsion utilizing SpaceDev's patented and
patent-pending hybrid motor technology. This unique space
transportation system is designed to effectively, reliably and
safely carry crew/passengers and cargo in both the suborbital and
orbital flight regimes.
The SpaceDev Dream Chaser Space Vehicle can be adapted to
various mission configurations including carrying all passengers;
pressurized or unpressurized cargo or, various combinations of crew
and pressurized cargo. It is a piloted space solution which
launches vertically and lands horizontally on conventional
runways.
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