Testing Stopped Following Landing Gear Malfunctioned During Drop Test

Sierra Nevada Corp. says its Dream Chaser prototype will resume flight testing before the end of 2014.

The company conducted unmanned drop tests with the aircraft last year, but those stopped after the left landing gear malfunctioned on landing and the aircraft skidded off the runway during its first free-flight test.

Now, Fox News reports that, according to SNC vice president for space systems Mark Sirangelo, the company is ready to begin testing again with several automated drop tests followed by flights with a pilot on board the aircraft.

Sirangelo made the announcement during a news conference which took place at Cape Canaveral, FL, in which SNC announced a partnership with Craig Technologies, which will provide multiple contracted products and services to the company.

Craig Technologies' first contract is to work with SNC engineers to design and develop a critical part of the Ground Support Equipment (GSE) known as the cradle, a mechanical device used to lift, transport and rotate the Dream Chaser spacecraft during processing. SNC chose to team with Craig Technologies on its Dream Chaser program because of their depth of human spaceflight experience coupled with their end-to-end design-to-production capability including specialty manufacturing, precision machining and fabrication, and test and evaluation services, as well as materials requirement planning and supply chain management systems.

"Today is the start of a relationship that can grow substantially as a continuation of our expansion in Florida," Sirangelo said. "We are pleased to have Carol (Craig) and her company join forces as part of our Dream Team, which includes top tier companies in over 30 states. Craig Technologies' strong engineering capabilities and outstanding facilities along with their company values and passion are an ideal fit for SNC and our Dream Chaser program. We look forward to exploring ways in which we can continue to work together, returning jobs to the Space Coast and continuing our commitment to small business."

Craig Technologies recently invested in the renovation of an existing 161,000 square foot facility in Cape Canaveral. The company leveraged NASA's investment by utilizing the heritage space shuttle depot facility formerly occupied by United Space Alliance and converting it to office and manufacturing space, including the latest high tech, high precision, manufacturing equipment.

(Images from file)

FMI: www.sncorp.com