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SpaceDev Begins Work on ''Dream Chaser'' Space Vehicle for NASA |
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POWAY, CA, Sept. 20/Satnews Daily/ — SpaceDev (OTCBB: SPDV) has begun designing a reuseable, piloted, sub-orbital space ship that could be scaled up to safely and economically transport passengers to and from low earth orbit, including the International Space Station.
The design work commenced after SpaceDev signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with NASA Ames Research Center for the two parties to explore novel, hybrid propulsion based hypersonic test beds for routine human space access. The parties will explore collaborative partnerships to investigate the potential of using SpaceDev's proven hybrid propulsion and other technologies, and a low cost, private space program development approach, to establish and design new piloted small launch vehicles and flight test platforms to enable near-term, low-cost routine space access for NASA and the United States.
One possibility for collaboration is the development of the “SpaceDev Dream Chaser” vehicle, which is currently being discussed with NASA Ames.
Unlike the more complex SpaceShipOne, for which SpaceDev provides critical proprietary hybrid rocket motor propulsion technologies, the SpaceDev Dream Chaser would be crewed and take-off vertically, like most launch vehicles, and will glide back for a normal horizontal runway landing.
Jim Benson, SpaceDev CEO said through the company’s unbroken string of successful space technology developments, he believes SpaceDev has the technical capability and know-how to build a reliable orbital public space transportation hopefully by the end of this decade.
The sub-orbital Dream Chaser is derived from an existing X-Plane concept and will have an altitude goal of approximately 160 km (about 100 miles) and will be powered by a single, high performance hybrid rocket motor, under parallel development by SpaceDev for the SpaceDev Streaker, a family of small, expendable launch vehicles, designed to affordably deliver small satellites to low earth orbit.
The Dream Chaser will use motor technology being developed for the SpaceDev Streakerbooster stage. It will produce approximately 100,000 pounds of thrust, about six times the thrust of the SpaceShipOne motor, but less than one-half the thrust of the 250,000 pounds of thrust produced by hybrid rocket motors developed several years ago by the American Rocket Company (AMROC).
Recent Stories: SpaceDev Delivers Rocket Motors for X-Prize Attempt SpaceDev Closes $2.5 Million Financing and Expands Credit Facility |
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