Dominique Stump
Sierra Nevada Corporation has awarded Aerojet Rocketdyne a contract to provide an electrical power system for the former’s Dream Chaser commercial spacecraft designated by NASA to transport cargo to and from the International Space Station.
Aerojet Rocketdyne said Tuesday it will design, create, test and install the electrical power system onto Dream Chaser as well as provide power conversion and distribution units and rechargeable batteries under the contract.
NASA selected Sierra Nevada, Orbital ATK and SpaceX in January for the second iteration of the space agency’s Commercial Resupply Services program that awards participants task orders for individual flights to the ISS.
Julie Van Kleeck, Aerojet Rocketdyne’s vice president of advance space and launch, said the rechargeable batteries work to support the spacecraft’s free-flight time in space and its journey to and from Earth.
The company currently supports the International Space Station’s own power systems and will build on its experience to help develop power systems for SNC commercial missions as well as NASA exploration and in-space transportation programs, said Eileen Drake, Aerojet Rocketdyne CEO and president.
Aerojet Rocketdyne will build the system to regulate and distribute energy from the spacecraft’s solar arrays to power avionics, thermal and propulsion systems and any electrical-powered payloads during delivery missions.
