Sierra Nevada Corp. wants to procure a United Launch Alliance-built rocket as the company prepares for an orbital flight in November 2016.
Sierra Nevada will also establish an operation site at NASA Kennedy Space Center where its Dream Chaser spacecraft will be launched into space aboard an Atlas V rocket, NASA said Thursday.
“SNC is thrilled to confirm a launch date for our country’s return to orbital human spaceflight and the restart of human spaceflight operations from Florida’s Space Coast,” said Mark Sirangelo, corporate vice president and head of SNC’s space systems.
The Dream Chaser spacecraft is built to transport crew and cargo and conduct science operations in low-Earth orbit.
Louisville, Colo.-based Sierra Nevada will lease the Kennedy Space Center’s operations and checkout facility where Lockheed Martin will work to prepare the Dream Chaser for the launch.
SNC will also open an office space at Exploration Park near the Kennedy center.