Jun 022012
Last Tuesday the Sierra Nevada Corp flew a full-scale version of their Dream Chaser lifting body spaceplane – under a Sikorsky Skycrane helicopter. This was an engineering test article… something like halfway between a mockup and a functioning craft. Aerodynamically and probably mass-wise it was an accurate representation of the proposed vehicle, with some aerodynamic control, but not space-capable nor fitted with propulsion systems.
With SpaceX’s recent success, Virgin Galactic hopefully to begin powered flights of the Spaceship2 shortly, and Sierra Nevada and Xcor both seeming to be on track to fly manned vehicles shortly, there just might be hope for the American space program after all.