Somehow NASA realized Dream Chaser is BETTER than SpaceX Dragon, even Starship...

Somehow NASA realized Dream Chaser is BETTER than SpaceX Dragon, even Starship...

When the Space Shuttle Atlantis rolled to a stop on its final mission in 2011, it was truly the end of an era.
Few could deny that the program had become too complex and expensive to keep running, but even still, humanity’s ability to do useful work in low Earth orbit took a serious hit with the retirement of the Shuttle fleet. Worse, there was no indication of when or if another spacecraft would be developed that could truly rival the capabilities of the winged orbiters first conceived in the late 1960s.
While its primary function was to carry large payloads such as satellites into orbit, the Shuttle’s ability to retrieve objects from space and bring them back was arguably just as important. Throughout its storied career, sensitive experiments conducted at the International Space Station or aboard the Orbiter itself were returned gently to Earth thanks to the craft’s unique design. Unlike traditional spacecraft that ended their flight with a rough splashdown in the open ocean, the Shuttle eased itself down to the tarmac like an airplane. Once landed, experiments could be quickly unloaded and transferred to the nearby Space Station Processing Facility where science teams would be waiting to perform further processing or analysis.
For 30 years, the Space Shuttle and its assorted facilities at Kennedy Space Center provided a reliable way to deliver fragile or time-sensitive scientific experiments into the hands of researchers just a few hours after leaving orbit. It was a valuable service that simply didn’t exist before the Shuttle, and one that scientists have been deprived of ever since its retirement.
Until 2021.
With the successful splashdown of the first Cargo Dragon 2 off the coast of Florida in January 2021, NASA has regained a critical capability it hasn’t had for a decade. While it’s still not quite as convenient as simply rolling the Shuttle into the Orbiter Processing Facility after a mission, the fact that SpaceX can guide their capsule down into the waters near the Space Coast greatly reduces the time required to return experiments to the researchers who designed them.
Somehow NASA just realized Dream Chaser is better than SpaceX Dragon and even Starship.

[pef]

20 years in development and still hasnt flown. And tied to the ULA Vulcan which is also plagued by delays. I don't think SpaceX need to worry yet...

[mriguy]

This video states that the space shuttle was convenient. But it was wildly inconvenient, because the schedule could not be depended on. It was not inexpensive and it fell substantially short of its original specifications.
It's possible to shield payloads from excessive g forces on Dragon.
I hope that Dream Chaser works well. But at this time, we do not know the cost, we do not know the payload, we do not know the turnaround time, we do not know the safety. These are all wished-for goals.

[chalattil]

It’s crazy how far spaceX has come though

[douginorlando]

The real reason NASA would commit to Dream Chaser is because NASA does not want to be dependent on one company … and Starliner is an abject failure (and the others competing against SpaceX are pretty much on financial roadmap to doom).

[ARWest-bpyb]

Looking forward to Dream Chaser's launch, Sierra's been working on it for a long time so hoping the first flight is a success!👍👍

[bobholland]

NASA is the reason space X don't land dragon on the ground . They were going to do this. NASA said no.

[wolfmanzz]

Yeah, right!! Try landing that Dream Chaser at O’Hare, Atlanta, JFK, BWI, Dulles, Dallas/Ft Worth, Houston, LAX, or ANY busy airport!! Ain’t gonna happen!!! That Dream Chaser only has ONE chance at a safe landing. It can’t take off and try again!!

[festeradams]

Until it actually flies and returns successfully, the jury is still out. Meanwhile SpaceX continues to gain flight experience. As to the next Starship launch and its outcome, time will tell, but the tale will be told in the next months before Dream Chasers first flight.

[JLange]

Any competition is good for the overall space industry. Especially if it offers options to retrieve crew from space in an emergency. After seeing the different programs through time from around the world, SpaceX is just a remarkable feat! I only hope its' success continues in the future!

[brettvaughn]

Starliner was recently found to have flammable electric tape used throughout assembly. It must be entirely disassembled. Remove the flammable material and reassembled. Guess Boeing forgot about Apollo I.

[savagecub]

Yeah while it can theoretically land on “any” runway an airliner can I don’t see it ever being approved for going into congested airspace. So actually it can land anywhere in the middle of nowhere.

[tiapc]

Until they can launch Dream Chaser without a fairing, I will always question the practicality of Dream Chaser.

[plutoniumzeppelin]

As far as I know it was NASA that made SpaceX change Dragon Capsule from having propulsive landing to parachute landing to meet safety standards/regulations for carrying humans

[DJ-bhju]

9:30 Ooops... SpaceX can drop Dragon wherever it wants (in water)... Many returns have been just off Florida's coast -

[falconczz]

SpaceX, Accomplished More in Far Less Time Than NASA Ever Has. Ever!!!

[tsamuel]

The title is click bait. Video contains nothing related to its title. Dream Chaser is still just another dream still being chased. In contrast, Dragon is likely nearing the end of its life as Starship is intended to be vastly cheaper.

[hankb]

What crap is this? This vehicle hasn't even been tested yet so where does this realisation come from?

[Vermiliontea]

There are big holes in these projection. All the biggest of them have to do with economy. Then we have availability. And that is also connected with my big question mark of all this: "Sensitive cargo"? What about the g-forces during re-entry? The final landing on the Earth's surface is minute problem, which could be easily fixed if it was even worthwhile to do it. Reducing re-entry g-forces by making a more aerodynamic re-entry (which the space-shuttle frankly didn't) would result in humongous amounts of skin friction heat (and I don't really see that the Dream Chaser is designed for this either).

[scivirus]

Dream Chaser cant even come close to what starship can carry

[patmcnally]

Dream chaser depends on another launch Provider meanwhile SpaceX is a 1 Stop Shop and didn't Depend on BO.