The first Dream Chaser space plane, named "Tenacity," has arrived at NASA's Kennedy Space Center (KSC) in Florida. Built by Colorado-based Sierra Space, the robotic spacecraft reached the Space Coast on May 18th to undergo final testing and processing before embarking on its debut cargo flight to the International Space Station (ISS).

The Dream Chaser, coupled with the cargo module "Shooting Star," is designed to deliver essential supplies to the orbiting laboratory in the near future. For its inaugural mission, scheduled for late 2024, Tenacity will launch atop United Launch Alliance's new Vulcan Centaur rocket from the nearby Cape Canaveral Space Force Station.

According to NASA officials, the combined Dream Chaser and Shooting Star will transport approximately 7,800 pounds (3,500 kilograms) of cargo to the ISS. The cargo includes vital resources necessary for sustaining the crew onboard the space station.

The Dream Chaser space plane draws inspiration from the iconic NASA space shuttle as well as Soviet-era spacecraft designs. Initially, Dream Chaser was among the contenders under NASA's Commercial Crew Program. However, in 2014, NASA ultimately selected SpaceX's Crew Dragon and Boeing's Starliner for crewed missions to the ISS.

Sierra Nevada Corp. (SNC), Dream Chaser's predecessor, filed a protest with the U.S. Government Accountability Office in September of that year. Their complaint alleged "serious questions and inconsistencies in the source selection process." However, the GAO ruled against SNC, finding no issues with the evaluation.

Although not selected for crewed missions, SNC later secured a Commercial Resupply Services 2 (CRS-2) contract from NASA in 2016. The contract mandates the completion of at least six cargo flights to the ISS. Similarly, SpaceX's Dragon and Northrop Grumman's Cygnus vehicles were also granted funding under the CRS-2 program.

Over the past decade, the Dream Chaser prototypes have successfully undergone ground testing and autonomous glide flights within Earth's atmosphere. These achievements paved the way for the current Dream Chaser iteration, Tenacity, poised to contribute to the ongoing efforts in space exploration and supply missions to the ISS.

The Dream Chaser's arrival at the Kennedy Space Center marks an important milestone in Sierra Space's journey to becoming a significant player in the space industry. With its unique design and capabilities, the Dream Chaser space plane holds the promise of expanding humanity's presence in space and supporting scientific research on the ISS.