The world’s first winged commercial spaceplane, named Tenacity, is in the final stages of preparation for its inaugural mission to the International Space Station (ISS) at the end of 2024. This state-of-the-art spacecraft has undergone rigorous testing at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida after arriving from the Neil Armstrong Test Facility in Ohio. Developed by Sierra Space, an American company, Tenacity is part of their Dream Chaser series.
After completing its testing phase, Tenacity is now undergoing final preparations before its first mission to transport 3,540 kg of cargo to the ISS. The spacecraft will hitch a ride on the Vulcan rocket operated by United Launch Alliance to deliver food, water, and scientific experiment kits to the ISS. Initially envisioned as part of NASA’s Commercial Crew program for transporting astronauts to and from the ISS, Dream Chaser was later repurposed for carrying cargo following the selection of vehicles from Boeing and SpaceX.
Tenacity is unique as it is equipped with internal thrusters for precise landing on the ISS and fixed wings for re-entry into Earth’s atmosphere. It will automatically land on the runway at Kennedy Space Center. The Shooting Star cargo module can carry up to 3,175 kg of cargo and will burn up during re-entry, decomposing any trash from the mission. This makes it possible for Tenacity to carry out multiple missions without returning back to Earth after each trip.
Sierra Space plans to operate a production line to assemble Shooting Star modules for each mission due to their disposable nature. NASA has scheduled at least seven cargo missions with Tenacity, with potential for increasing its carrying capacity and extending missions beyond 75 days in future trips.
In conclusion, Tenacity represents a new era in commercial space travel with its innovative design and capabilities making it possible for companies like Sierra Space to transport cargo efficiently and cost-effectively through space travel technology advancements.
