Sierra Nevada Corporation Completes Wind Tunnel Testing of The Dream Chaser® Orbital Crew Vehicle at Texas A&M University

SPARKS, Nev., April 25, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- Sierra Nevada Corporation (SNC) Space Systems has successfully completed wind tunnel testing of a scale model of the Dream Chaser® orbital crew vehicle in the Oran W. Nicks Low Speed Wind Tunnel at Texas A&M University in College Station, Texas. Aerodynamic data generated from this testing, coupled with data from computer simulations, will define the characteristics of the Dream Chaser® lifting body vehicle during the approach and landing phase of flight. This information will assist engineers in preparing for the Dream Chaser® vehicle's first free flight test scheduled for the third quarter of this year.

"The Dream Chaser® Program thanks the Texas A&M wind tunnel team for their support of this testing, which produced results that exceeded our expectations.  As the only lifting body vehicle currently funded by NASA under the Commercial Crew Development Program, we are thankful for the opportunity to verify our computational data in such an advanced facility.  This is an important step in preparing for the vehicle's first free flight," said Mark Sirangelo, Corporate Vice President of SNC's Space Systems.

Read the full release here: http://www.sncorp.com/press_more_info.php?id=487

For more information on the Dream Chaser® Space System, please visit:  www.SNCSpace.com

About Sierra Nevada Corporation
Sierra Nevada Corporation (SNC) is one of America's fastest growing private companies. Under the leadership of CEO Fatih Ozmen and Chairman and President Eren Ozmen, SNC employs over 2,100 people in 31 locations in 16 states. SNC's seven unique business areas are dedicated to providing leading-edge technology solutions to SNC's customers. For more information visit www.sncorp.com.

About Sierra Nevada Corporation's Space Systems
Sierra Nevada's Space Systems business area, headquartered in Louisville, Colorado designs and manufactures advanced spacecraft, space vehicles, and spacecraft subsystems for commercial and government customers.  Space Systems has more than 20 years heritage in space, successfully delivering over 400 subsystems for 300+ satellite missions.  For more information visit www.sncspace.com.

SOURCE Sierra Nevada Corporation