Freightliner Trucks, a subsidiary of Daimler Truck North America, worked with Sierra Space on high-speed runway tow tests for the Dream Chaser autonomous spaceplane, designed to transport pressurized and unpressurized cargo to and from low Earth orbit. Sierra Space used a fifth-generation Freightliner Cascadia to simulate landing dynamics and validate parameters tied to Dream Chaser’s autonomous landing sequence.
DTNA product validation engineer Nate Fleming transported Dream Chaser about 10 miles from NASA’s Space Systems Processing Facility to the Launch and Landing Facility ahead of runway testing.
“There was a lot riding on this testing,” Fleming said. “Sierra Space trusted me to haul Dream Chaser, and trusted the Cascadia to carry it safely.”
Runway Tow Testing and Vehicle Setup
Dream Chaser is designed to launch vertically inside a rocket fairing, deploy its wings in orbit, maneuver in low Earth orbit using thrusters, and return to Earth for a runway landing. The vehicle uses tandem rear wheels and a single reinforced skid plate to reduce space and weight.
To support validation of that landing system, Sierra Space used an unmodified Cascadia sleeper with a 72-inch raised roof to tow Dream Chaser to speeds up to 70 mph on a 15,000-foot runway at Kennedy Space Center.
Powertrain Control and Mission Context
The tow testing required controlled acceleration, stability, and speed management. The fifth-generation Cascadia used its Detroit DD15 engine, DT12 automated manual transmission, and Detroit axles to move and control the trailer built for the landing-sequence test work.
“Dream Chaser is redefining how cargo moves in space, and that shared spirit of innovation made this partnership a natural fit,” said David Carson, senior vice president of sales and marketing at DTNA.
Sierra Space describes Dream Chaser as a reusable spaceplane intended to deliver payloads to space and return them to Earth via runway landing, which can place cargo closer to processing and delivery destinations.
“This test is about proving we can land safely, reliably, and repeatedly,” said Klint Combs, vice president of test engineering at Sierra Space.
