Dream Chaser is Making its First Flight and Aiming for Multifunctional Applications

Sierra Space, a proven defense technology company that delivers solutions to the country’s most crucial missions and promotes the future of space security, today announced a strategic transition for its Dream Chaser® space aircraft. The Dream Chaser's first flight will be a demonstration mission, with the technology being tested for free and providing critical data to NASA. This approach aims to provide Sierra Space with the flexibility to address the most pressing national security challenges in space, while continuing to improve the Dream Chaser's capabilities for NASA and commercial customers.

Sierra Space prioritizes the readiness for the first flight with the Dream Chaser and aims for a launch in late 2026, in line with the expected availability of the launch vehicle. Sierra Space and NASA have worked together to achieve this mutually beneficial agreement, which provides more flexibility for the Dream Chaser's first flight. This flight is intended to demonstrate crucial capabilities for NASA's supply missions in the ISS and future Commercial LEO Destinations (CLD) missions, and to position the Dream Chaser as a national asset available for future demonstrations in the field of national security and defense.

As America's Spaceplane® his we believe that its adaptability as an orbital, hypersonic spacecraft and the rapidly deployable, commercial testing environment are crucial to meeting the country's changing priorities and emerging threats. In addition, the Dream Chaser features unique features and capabilities as a commercial, autonomous spacecraft with the ability to land on any conventional runway, enabling reusability, fast turnaround times, and cost-efficient operations for space missions.

"Dream Chaser represents the future of versatile space transport and mission flexibility," said Fatih Ozmen, Executive Chair at Sierra Space. "This transition provides unique opportunities to meet the needs of diverse mission profiles, including emerging and existential threats and national security priorities that align with our acceleration in the defense technology market. Together with NASA, we aim to maintain the exceptional potential of Dream Chaser as a national asset and ensure that it is ready for the next era of space innovation.”