Dream Chaser Completes A Free Flight Test
Dream Chaser Completes Free Flight Test
“Completion of Dream Chaser’s free flight test on Nov. 11, 2017, was a major milestone under a space act agreement with NASA’s Commercial Crew Program. NASA selected Sierra Nevada Corp., along with Orbital ATK and SpaceX, for the agency’s second commercial resupply contracts to deliver critical science, research and technology demonstrations to the International Space Station from 2019 to 2024.”
Congratulations to Fatih Ozman and SNC on a successful flight!
Any info on the gross weight and touchdown speed?
The speed couldn’t be higher than the chopper, which is around 130MPH, I think. The altitude was around 10,000 feet. I wondered how this touchdown speed compares to return from orbit speeds.
CORRECTION: As the Professor points out below, obviously the drop speed and the maximum speed aren’t identical. SNC reported maximum speed around 324 MPH.
Release altitude was just under 12,500 feet according to the press release. (AGL or MSL I don’t know – I see Edwards is listed as 2300′ elev.) Reportedly the touchdown speed was 166 knots.
Another site reported “Landing speed: 191 miles per hour”. High landing speeds are a downside to lifting body type designs.
For comparison, the space shuttle orbiter reportedly had touchdown speeds in the range of 214 to 226 miles per hour. Landing the orbiter was so difficult that NASA sent up a flight simulator program so that the commander and pilot could practice approach and landings while in orbit!
Just watched the video…you really get a sense with a little craft like this exactly how fast it is falling towards the ground!
Yes, it would as gravity would accelerate it to flight speed which was why it was dropped from altitude.
Did they ever release the footage of the crash?
Accounts at the time said it resulted from a collapsed landing gear, so a significant component failure but fairly easy to correct, not an indication of a problem with aerodynamics or guidance.
A borrowed gear, too, from a fighter jet, and stunningly no damage to the airframe (space frame?).
It’s what you do when you don’t have the access to money and time that NASA has. NASA would probably spend tens of millions designing, testing and redesigning the perfect landing gear.
I think Paul already knows all of this (three previous posts) he was asking if they ever released footage of the hard landing. As far as I know they never did.
Yes. Its on youtube.
Link? All of the videos that I have seen show it on approach with the left gear not fully deployed, but the video ends before touchdown.
Sierra Nevada has certainly shown itself to be nimble. After so many disillusioning changes involving underwriting and funding they’ve modified the basic device to new requirements, although leaving aside the ability to carry people is disappointing. I know the reasons they were down-selected, but still, they are showing that this thing has feet. Or wings.
SNC also has the same video (but slightly trimmed 2m:37s); on its website, placed beneath the press-release article. Assuming it’s okay to put the link here, Keith: https://www.sncorp.com/pres…
The first 52 seconds shows the helo lifting the DC Test Article off its cradle. Then the video jumps to release at altitude and stays on the craft all the way down to wheels stop. Exquisite!
Skids are much lighter. If you don’t need a wheel, you don’t add a wheel.
Guaranteed braking.