FINALLY! Dream Chaser Is Launching After Constant Delays....
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Published 2024-04-24
Dream Chaser is very different from other spacecrafts we know. Unlike most modern spacecraft that rely on parachutes and ocean landings for recovery, Dream Chaser is engineered to land on conventional runways. This runway landing method, which was last used regularly during the Space Shuttle program, enables quicker recovery and reuse of the spacecraft.
This capability not only simplifies the logistics of returning from space but also reduces the time and cost associated with the refurbishment for subsequent missions. By landing on a runway, Dream Chaser can be quickly refurbished and relaunched, much like an airplane, which is a game-changer.
Dream Chaser’s design, which includes wings and landing gear similar to those of an aircraft, is a nod to the legacy of the Space Shuttle. However, it incorporates modern technological advancements that improve efficiency and safety. The spacecraft is compact and capable of docking with the International Space Station.
The Dream Chaser project started in the early 2000s, aiming for an initial flight in 2016. However, several challenges emerged that led to delays. Early in its development, the Dream Chaser faced significant issues with its automated flight control systems, crucial for ensuring safe runway landings. Debugging and refining these systems proved more time-consuming than initially expected.
Further complications occurred with the need for design modifications, particularly in the thermal protection system. The original designs needed enhancements to handle the extreme temperatures of re-entry more effectively. These necessary changes required additional development and testing phases, extending the timeline further.
Originally, the Dream Chaser was slated to launch on an Atlas 5 rocket. However, as Sierra Space looked towards more cost-effective launch options, they decided to switch to using the Vulcan Centaur rocket.
Keywords:-
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All Comments (21)
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Comparing Dream Chaser with Starship is like comparing a semi truck with a van, they're designed for two completely different missions. Starship is primarily for long hauls of people and freight beyond earth orbit. Dream Chaser is for LEO runs supporting space stations, and ultimately ferrying small crews to and from, putting it down on a runway saves all the costs and resources needed to either pluck it out of the ocean or in the middle of a desert.
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Did you forget the X-37b? It is current and uses runway landings.
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Looks like John Crichton's "Farscape One".
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We can rebuild him! We have the technology!
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Chase dat dream you tenacious little machine!... I'm sure it all gonna by fiiiiine... 🚀🎆✝
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And it could all be over in a few millisecond. You seem to have forgotten about the x37b which also lands on a runway.
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Safe journey!
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I haven’t seen pictures of its ferry aircraft
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Starship also stands out for being vigorously exaggerated and rather defective and packed with vaporware features. And the current version has a potential payload 14 tonnes less than Falcon Heavy according to Musk.
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The 3rd Starship fligt did NOT reach orbit. It exploded over the Indian ocean
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The design looks like that necklace thing from the tv show " ancient aliens"
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Looks terrific, but when can it launch with a crew, retirn and then relaunch ? And at a. competitive cost >?
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They must have watched the 6 million dollar man beginning part.
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I'm not sure about "useful" but I did find it interesting.
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It can only land on earth.
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yeah yeah, heard it all before
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I would buy shoes shaped like that 😜
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The video was about dream chaser or about starship? 😡
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It seems too small to be useful
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Buck Rogers space plane Waste of money