A project that could result in a space vehicle landing at Huntsville International Airport took another step forward this week as officials announced Phase II of the Dream Chaser spacecraft project is underway.

The second phase primarily consists of airport officials applying for licensing through the Federal Aviation Administration to land the craft on a commercial runway. This phase is expected to last at least 24 months.

Athens-based Morell Engineering was hired in 2015 to participate in a feasibility study to determine if a spacecraft could land at the airport. Rick Tucker, executive director of Huntsville International Airport, said the studies proved the craft could be landed at the airport, which is what led to the permitting process with the FAA.

“This is much more than an economic development project that will bring additional business to the airport and the community,” Tucker said. “This represents a shared vision of Huntsville as a leader in the commercial space economy as the first community to make a commitment to this vehicle and its role in space commerce.”

The Dream Chaser is a product of the Sierra Nevada Corporation, but previously announced its first two missions would be launched on the United Launch Alliance’s Atlas V rocket, manufactured in Decatur.

Other partners include Teledyne Brown Engineering, which serves as the prime contractor, with subcontracts to be issued to Sierra Nevada Corporation and RS&H. Partners with the airport include the cities of Huntsville and Madison, Madison County Commission, state of Alabama, University of Alabama in Huntsville and the Huntsville/Madison County Chamber.

While the permits are being sought, the partners will “share the capabilities of the Dream Chaser with potential users,” according to a press release. Other efforts will include “marketing the workforce and expertise of the Huntsville region” to support payload design, development, integration, operations and processing, the release said.

About the Dream Chaser

SNC’s Dream Chaser spacecraft is a multi-mission-capable space utility vehicle able to flexibly operate as an independent science platform, logistics enabler or orbital servicing vehicle. The Dream Chaser spacecraft operates similarly to the Space Shuttle, in that it launches vertically atop a rocket, and lands horizontally on a runway.

However, the Dream Chaser spacecraft is the only reusable, lifting-body spacecraft with a commercial runway landing capability, anywhere in the world. Significantly smaller than the Space Shuttle, it is able to land on any runway that can accommodate a Boeing 737 or Airbus 320 class aircraft.

Sierra Nevada Corporation was awarded a cargo resupply contract with NASA for the International Space Station in 2016. All science payloads aboard the International Space Station are managed by Marshall Space Flight Center at the Payload Operations and Integration Center on Redstone Arsenal. The POIC has been in continuous operation since 2001, with hundreds of scientific experiments being completed each year.

“We are very excited to be working with Huntsville as the first commercial airport that will apply for an FAA permit to land Dream Chaser after an orbital mission,” said John Roth, vice president of business development for SNC’s Space Systems business area. “We feel that the ability to land a space mission on a commercial runway anywhere in the world is a big advantage of our vehicle and will bring space up close and personal to thousands of people who can come out and see the landings. This will put us in the forefront of commercial space activities and it is no surprise that ‘Rocket City’ is the first to join us on that journey.”

For more information about the Dream Chaser, visit www.sncorp.com.