Sierra Nevada has announced that it plans to do additional test flights in 2014 of its prototype Dream Chaser engineering test vehicle
Sierra Nevada has announced that it plans to do additional test flights in 2014 of its prototype Dream Chaser engineering test vehicle.
This is the same test vehicle that skidded off the runway during its first flight when one of its landing legs did not deploy. The company has never released any images of that smashup, but has said the craft was salvageable. I imagine this announcement is part of the continuing lobbying campaign by all the companies (SpaceX, Boeing, Sierra Nevada) competing in NASA’s commercial manned program. NASA is supposed to down select to two companies, maybe only one, by the end of the summer.
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Sierra Nevada has announced that it plans to do additional test flights in 2014 of its prototype Dream Chaser engineering test vehicle.
This is the same test vehicle that skidded off the runway during its first flight when one of its landing legs did not deploy. The company has never released any images of that smashup, but has said the craft was salvageable. I imagine this announcement is part of the continuing lobbying campaign by all the companies (SpaceX, Boeing, Sierra Nevada) competing in NASA’s commercial manned program. NASA is supposed to down select to two companies, maybe only one, by the end of the summer.
The support of my readers through the years has given me the freedom and ability to analyze objectively the ongoing renaissance in space, as well as the cultural changes -- for good or ill -- that are happening across America. Four years ago, just before the 2020 election I wrote that Joe Biden's mental health was suspect. Only in this year has the propaganda mainstream media decided to recognize that basic fact.
Fourteen years ago I wrote that SLS and Orion were a bad ideas, a waste of money, would be years behind schedule, and better replaced by commercial private enterprise. Even today NASA and Congress refuse to recognize this reality.
In 2020 when the world panicked over COVID I wrote that the panic was unnecessary, that the virus was apparently simply a variation of the flu, that masks were not simply pointless but if worn incorrectly were a health threat, that the lockdowns were a disaster and did nothing to stop the spread of COVID. Only in the past year have some of our so-called experts in the health field have begun to recognize these facts.
Your help allows me to do this kind of intelligent analysis. I take no advertising or sponsors, so my reporting isn't influenced by donations by established space or drug companies. Instead, I rely entirely on donations and subscriptions from my readers, which gives me the freedom to write what I think, unencumbered by outside influences.
Please consider supporting my work here at Behind the Black.
You can support me either by giving a one-time contribution or a regular subscription. There are five ways of doing so:
1. Zelle: This is the only internet method that charges no fees. All you have to do is use the Zelle link at your internet bank and give my name and email address (zimmerman at nasw dot org). What you donate is what I get.
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5. Donate by check, payable to Robert Zimmerman and mailed to
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I’m wondering why companies are competing to operate under NASA’s purview. Why not just develop the hardware and operating procedures, and open for business? Oh, right. All that Federal money.
Its not so much the cash. They would charge about the same to any other company that wants a launch.
What they like about a contract with NASA are the guaranteed launches. Its guaranteed work with prearranged payments.
Contracts are something they can use as collateral to gain more investments.
Currently NASA is the bulk of the market anyone can find. Also securing that high profile contract gives you serious cred with any other market
SNC is interesting in that they have been quietly building up a lot of expertise and cash flow. Wholly owned by the couple who bought them in ’91, no debts, about $3B a year in sales, and building up. I know a couple big announcements in the pipeline, and wouldn’t be surprised if they are building up toward a full up RLV not to long from now. Given they don’t have to answer to stockholders, they could go ahead and do it, where a Boeing, McDonnell Douglas, Lockheed/Martin couldn’t get it past stockholders who really are just pension fund managers. And they have more expertise and internal funds/capital then Musk had, and not the crippling ego unwilling/able to work with others. (SNC is happily teamed with both Boeing and L/M on Dream Chaser, even though they compete with both.)
Much mention is made of the three companies that continue to receive NASA CCDev funding, and little is made of those companies that are doing as you suggest.
Blue Origin continues development of its New Shepard spacecraft despite no longer receiving NASA funds.
Pzatchok, below, is correct. One company (or maybe two) will end up with a NASA contract to taxi astronauts to the ISS for half a dozen-ish flights.
Those not in the running – those doing as you suggest – will have to rely upon flights to other destinations, such as Bigelow inflatable space habitats.