Spaceplane Checks Off Several Pre-Flight Tests at Kennedy Space Center

Sierra Space’s Dream Chaser spaceplane has cleared another round of pre-flight milestones at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center, bringing the lifting-body vehicle a step closer to the skies. The company has been running the spacecraft through a long list of test campaigns ahead of its debut under NASA’s CRS-2 cargo contract.

The Dream Chaser’s most recent accomplishments include electromagnetic interference and compatibility testing inside the Space Systems Processing Facility, demonstrating that its avionics and subsystems behave properly in the kinds of charged environments it will encounter from launch to landing. These EMI/EMC tests are standard for new spacecraft for their ability to expose integration issues, though Sierra Space listed none.

Tow testing followed this up at the Launch and Landing Facility, where a Freightliner Cascadia tractor pulled the spaceplane down the runway at a high speed to simulate landing dynamics. The testing checked Dream Chaser’s autonomous guidance during rollout, which is a key feature of the vehicle since it lands on conventional runways instead of the ocean or a drop zone.

The company also reported a series of successful command-and-control tests using NASA’s Tracking and Data Relay Satellite System. Mission Control in Louisville, Colorado, sent and received telemetry through TDRSS with the spaceplane, proving Dream Chaser’s ability to maintain live communications during on-orbit operations, approach, and landing.

To conclude the campaign, teams conducted a post-landing recovery to replicate safing procedures and rapid access to internal payloads. The spacecraft now moves toward acoustic testing, slated for December 2025, as Sierra Space works to make a name for itself in the defense side of things.

“Each milestone we achieve is a testament to the resilience, innovation and dedication of the Sierra Space team, and represents another significant step forward in ensuring Dream Chaser’s success as a versatile, reusable spacecraft,” said Fatih Ozmen, Executive Chair at Sierra Space. “We are excited to see Dream Chaser progressing steadily toward its inaugural flight to support the nation’s most pressing space priorities.”

Dream Chaser remains on schedule for a Q4 2026 launch to low Earth orbit, culminating in a runway landing at Vandenberg Space Force Base.

FMI: www.sierraspace.com