Spaceflight

https://x.com/NASASpaceflight/status/1951341362965586236

Sawyer Rosenstien (@thenasaman) gained an update on @SierraSpaceCo's Dream Chaser status from ISS Program Manager Dana Weigel today.

"They're working really hard. I think everyone really underestimates what it takes to put together a complex spacecraft. I mean, you're watching it right now with Boeing Starliner, you're watching it with Sierra, but if we remind ourselves on average it takes eight to ten years for a spacecraft to get ready and fly.

"Everybody's hopeful they'll be closer to six, but in reality there are a lot of complexities and you want to get it right. You got to fly when you're ready (via) final certification work.

"Some of the big key areas that they're focused on is the software certification. You've got to test end-to-end all the different software functions. So that's a big focus area for them. And then they're still working on certification in the prop system.

"We still have some of our integrated safety reviews to do, and we're in the process with updating both of our schedules to try to understand where does that really put us. And so Sierra's working on that, and so I need to wait and just get information back from them to see where they think some of that work lines out.

"But we are looking forward to having them flying. They're a berthing vehicle, so that's helpful for us to have dissimilar capabilities in terms of our ports and our logistics.

"So we will be ready for them when they're ready to fly."