A new space plane called Tenacity, built by Sierra Space, has arrived at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida in preparation for its first cargo flight to the International Space Station later this year.
The Dream Chaser space plane is designed to transport either cargo or astronauts to low-Earth orbit. Its design was based on NASA’s space shuttle and Soviet-era vehicles.
Tenacity will make its debut launch in September atop a United Launch Alliance Vulcan Centaur rocket from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station.
The Dream Chaser is unique in that it can land on runways like a glider after re-entry instead of splashing down in the ocean. This makes retrieval and turnaround quicker.
The flight in September will be a significant test for the Dream Chaser as the first time it demonstrates its ability to launch, rendezvous, dock and land with precision.
Sierra Space plans to use the Dream Chaser for cargo and eventually crewed missions to help establish a regular presence in low-Earth orbit and facilitate scientific research and commercial activities in space.
Source: WFLA
