DocM Posted July 23, 2014 Share Posted July 23, 2014 First Germany/ESA, now JAXA (Japan). SNC may not care if they get a NASA ISS bid. http://www.spacenews.com/article/civil-space/41358snc-enlists-japan-for-dream-chaser-study SNC Enlists Japan for Dream Chaser Study WASHINGTON ? Sierra Nevada Corp. (SNC) Space Systems added the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency to the expanding stable of international space agencies exploring mission concepts for the Louisville, Colorado-based company?s Dream Chaser lifting-body spacecraft, SNC announced July 23. Under the cooperative understanding, the two sides will collaborate on mission concepts and potential applications of Japanese technologies for Dream Chaser, SNC said in a press release. In addition, JAXA and SNC will explore the possibility of launching and landing the spacecraft in Japan, the release said. SNC is developing Dream Chaser, which the company describes as ?the only multi-mission space utility vehicle in the world,? under a funded cooperative agreement with NASA as a possible means of transporting astronauts to and from the international space station. The vehicle is designed to launch atop an expendable rocket and, after re-entry, glide back to Earth for a runway landing. SNC signed similar Dream Chaser agreements with the European Space Agency and the German Aerospace Center. The agreement with the 20-member ESA called for a yearlong study to examine the use of European hardware to reduce SNC?s development costs. The German pact, completed in November, studied whether Dream Chaser could be adapted for satellite launches. The agreement with JAXA ?represents an important next step in SNC providing global transportation access to low Earth-orbit? Mark Sirangelo, corporate vice president of SNC Space Systems, wrote in an email to SpaceNews. Sirangelo suggested that access to Dream Chaser could help incentivize Japan to continue its participation in the space station program through 2024, the date to which the White House has proposed extending operations. Japan is currently onboard through 2020. > Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DocM Posted July 24, 2014 Author Share Posted July 24, 2014 Presser. Wow.... FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE MEDIA CONTACT: Sean Wilson (O) 832-864-3518 SNCDreamChaser@sncorp.com Sierra Nevada Corporation Announces Cooperative Understanding with Japanese Aerospace Exploration Agency for the Dream Chaser? Space System Sparks, Nev., July 23, 2014 ? Sierra Nevada Corporation (SNC) announced today the expansion of its Dream Chaser? Space System?s global partnership to include Asia and the Pacific Rim through a recently signed memorandum of cooperative understanding with the Japanese Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA). SNC will work with JAXA on potential applications of Japanese technologies and the development of mission concepts for the Dream Chaser spacecraft. Additionally, SNC and JAXA will explore the possibility of launching and landing the Dream Chaser spacecraft in Japan. This international collaboration will widen the breadth of the global capabilities offered by SNC?s Dream Chaser reusable, lifting-body spacecraft. Currently, the Dream Chaser is undergoing development and flight test preparations to transport astronauts from the United States and partner nations to low-Earth orbit (LEO) destinations, such as the International Space Station (ISS). The first Dream Chaser orbital launch is scheduled for November 2016. Beyond the technical collaboration, the cooperation seeks to maintain and strengthen the existing global space partnerships established between Japan and the U.S. JAXA joins the expanding SNC international team that includes the European Space Agency (ESA) and the German Space Agency (DLR). SNC is confident that the expertise the Japanese bring will further advance the development of the Dream Chaser spacecraft, while providing JAXA access to Dream Chaser flights to advance its space technologies, flight opportunities and space interests in LEO. ?We are excited about the potential of this new relationship with Japan,? said Mark N. Sirangelo, corporate vice president of SNC?s Space Systems. ?This expands our global Dream Chaser Space System partnerships to include another major ISS partner with demonstrated capabilities that significantly advance space education and exploration. Japan, like the United States, has the infrastructure to support both launch and landing of the Dream Chaser spacecraft within its own borders.? SNC?s Dream Chaser Space System is at the forefront of the commercial human spaceflight industry offering safe, reliable and cost-effective crew and critical cargo transportation services to LEO. As the only lifting-body, low-g reentry spacecraft with the capability to land on commercial runways, anywhere in the world, Dream Chaser is uniquely adaptable to meet a variety of mission requirements to retrieve, repair, replace, assemble or deploy items in space, making it the only multi-mission space utility vehicle in the world. About Sierra Nevada Corporation?s Space Systems > > Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts