Dream Chaser Delivered to Florida, Preparing for Maiden Vulcan Launch
Summary: NASA and Sierra Space have delivered the Dream Chaser cargo spaceplane to Kennedy Space Center in Florida, preparing for launch on a ULA Vulcan rocket from Cape Canaverals SLC-41, carrying 7,800 pounds (about 3,540 kg) of cargo to the ISS.
According to a NASA release dated July 10, the Dream Chaser cargo spaceplane developed by Sierra Space has arrived at Kennedy Space Center in Florida and entered its launch preparation phase. The vehicle is slated to lift off from Space Launch Complex 41 at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station aboard a United Launch Alliance Vulcan rocket. The mission also marks the first orbital flight of the Dream Chaser program.
Dream Chaser is a reusable lifting-body cargo spaceplane. Its silhouette echoes aspects of the legacy Space Shuttle, but the vehicle uses a lifting-body configuration sized to fit inside a 5-meter class payload fairing. The spacecraft flies under NASA Commercial Resupply Services (CRS-2) contract, alongside SpaceX Dragon and Northrop Grumman Cygnus, to deliver cargo to the International Space Station. This inaugural mission will carry approximately 7,800 pounds (about 3,540 kg) of supplies to the orbiting laboratory.
Following arrival at Kennedy, the spacecraft will undergo final integration and testing, including fairing encapsulation with the Vulcan rocket, docking system checks, and pre-launch rehearsals. The exact launch date remains pending, contingent on Vulcan booster readiness and the Eastern Range schedule. If all proceeds as planned, Dream Chaser will demonstrate its full mission lifecycle for the first time, rendezvous and berthing with the ISS, cargo transfer, and a runway landing back on Earth.