Spacecraft has captive carry test

Sierra Nevada of Louisville, Colo., completed a captive-carry test of the Dream Chaser spacecraft Aug. 22 at Dryden Flight Research Center at Edwards Air Force Base, Calif. During the two-hour test, an Erickson Air-Crane helicopter picked up a test version of the Dream Chaser flight vehicle and flew it three miles over a dry lake bed at Edwards at a maximum altitude of about 12,400 feet. The spacecraft followed the projected path it will fly during future approach and landing tests at Dryden. Dream Chaser's flight computer, along with its guidance, navigation and control systems were tested. The landing gear and nose skid also were deployed during flight. (Source: NASA, 08/22/13) Gulf Coast note: Lockheed Martin is assembling the composite structure for the first space-bound Dream Chaser at Michoud Assembly Facility, New Orleans. Previous