On February 2, 2024, Sierra Space achieved a significant milestone in its ongoing test campaign as it successfully mated its Dream Chaser spaceplane to the Shooting Star module at NASA’s Neil Armstrong Test Facility in Ohio. This development brings the orbital-class spaceplane one step closer to its mission of transporting supplies and science experiments to the International Space Station as part of NASA’s Commercial Resupply Services 2 (CRS-2) contract.

Sierra Space, along with Northrop Grumman and SpaceX, was awarded the CRS-2 contract in 2016, signifying a maximum value of $14 billion. The successful integration of the Dream Chaser spaceplane and the Shooting Star module marks a significant achievement for Sierra Space, following years of development delays.

Tom Vice, the CEO of Sierra Space, expressed pride in the company’s accomplishment, emphasizing the transformative impact of their work. He stated, ‘The work we are doing will change everything and it will lay new footsteps for the next generation to follow.’

Following the completion of the integration, the spaceplane, named ‘Tenacity,’ is set to undergo final testing before being transported to Florida for launch. Vice highlighted the significance of this milestone, stating, ‘We are really excited that this year we enter orbital operations for NASA. It is a year that we change how we connect Earth and space.’

The Dream Chaser spaceplane, along with the Shooting Star module, is currently positioned on top of the shake table inside NASA’s Mechanical Vibrations Facility at the Armstrong Test Facility. Jimmy Kenyon, the director of NASA’s Glenn Research Center, described the facility as ‘the world’s largest and highest capacity spacecraft shaker system,’ emphasizing its critical role in testing the spacecraft’s readiness for the harsh flight environment.

Since early January, the Dream Chaser has been undergoing rigorous testing, marking a significant step forward in Sierra Space’s efforts to revolutionize space transportation. With the successful integration of the spaceplane and module, Sierra Space is poised to play a pivotal role in advancing the connection between Earth and space.