Dream Chaser work showcased

NEW ORLEANS -- Sierra Nevada and Lockheed Martin gave a tour of the Michoud Assembly Facility where work is under way on composite structures for the Dream Chaser crew vehicle. Dream Chaser, designed to carry a crew of seven along with cargo to the International Space Station, looks like a small Space Shuttle. Part of NASA's program to turn over low-Earth orbit missions to private companies, Dream Chaser's first unmanned flight is scheduled for 2016. MAF is where a majority of the composite parts for the vessel, including cabin support structures and wings, is being manufactured. Final assembly will be at a Lockheed Martin facility in Fort Worth, Texas. Lockheed Martin is also working on NASA's Orion space capsule at MAF. Fifteen Lockheed Martin workers are involved in Dream Chaser, 124 in Orion and another 20 or involved in building two massive liquefied natural gas tanks. (Sources: nola.com, WGNO-TV, AP via Wichita Eagle, 03/25/14) Previous: Dream Chaser has landing snafu; Spacecraft has captive carry test; Dream Chaser tests under way; LM joins Dream Chaser team