Representatives of NASA, Sierra Nevada Space Systems and the University of Colorado at Boulder held a press conference today to discuss a partnership they hope will lead to a more efficient spacecraft for taking astronauts into low Earth orbit.
Sierra Nevada Space Systems is developing a space plane, called the Dream Chaser, capable of carrying seven passengers. The Denver-based branch of the Sierra Nevada Corporation received the most money of any of the companies competing for grants from NASA’s Commercial Crew Development Program. The program is designed to help involve the commercial sector in the American space program.
“We are so impressed with not only the Dream Chaser but the progress on our (Commercial Crew Development) awards,” said Lori Garver, NASA’s deputy administrator. “It has proven out this concept that the government doesn’t need to fund everything itself and that we don’t have the answer to every question. We have learned so much from working with these companies and it’s a unique way to take advantage of that government investment.”
Sierra Nevada Space Systems is hoping to test drop the Dream Chaser in May 2012. The company has test facilities at the University of Colorado, and CU students are helping design and test the space craft.
“It’s a great partnership between government, industry and academia,” said Jim Voss, vice president of space explorations systems at Sierra Nevada and a scholar in residence at CU’s aerospace engineering sciences department. “Those things all combined together lets you do something in a different way. It’s cost-effective, efficient and we’re able to do things quickly.”
NASA hopes that its decision to open up to the commercial sector will make America a leader in space innovations.
“People love to explore, they want to feel the sense that we’re going to do something that we haven’t done before,” said Mark Sirangelo, chairman of Sierra Nevada Space Systems. “We feel that Americans should ride in American vehicles built in America by American industry.”
Mitchell Byars: 303-954-1698 or mbyars@denverpost.com
