'Six-seat taxi' flying into space was introduced at CES 2022

Close-up of the Dream Chaser spaceship with a capacity of 6 passengers

At the Consumer Electronics Show (CES) 2022, Sierra Space - a space company based in Colorado, USA has officially introduced a prototype spaceship called Dream Chaser.

Initially, the Dream Chaser was only designed to transport resupply cargo to the International Space Station (ISS). However, in a new statement at CES 2022, Sierra Space revealed that it is upgrading the vehicle to be able to carry people into space, thereby officially entering the space tourism race.

With a total length of 9 meters, the Dream Chaser, which can carry six crew members from Earth to commercial facilities in low orbit, is expected to be urgently built in about a decade. 

Sierra Space President Janet Kavandi said in the statement: "As a former NASA astronaut, I have been waiting for the moment when more people worldwide will have access to working and living in space. , and that moment has come".

"We see an open market for attracting more and more people into space," said Neeraj Gupta, Sierra Space's Director of Advanced Development.

A prototype Dream Chaser tested in 2013

It is known that the cargo version of the Dream Chaser is expected to be launched for the first time this year. It is designed to transport pressurized and non-pressurized cargo up to approximately 5,488 kg.

In addition to the Dream Chaser, Sierra Space is also introducing a smaller model, called the Life. The model, dubbed "miniature apartment in space", will be folded inside the capsule of the rocket, then when it reaches space, it will open into 3 floors. Inside is a space that can sustain life and is fully equipped with a capacity of 4 people.

Clearly, Sierra Space shows ambition not only to serve astronauts, but also to target an audience of scientists, filmmakers and even tourists with suitable habitat on the space station. pillar.

Model of a 3-storey mobile home with full living conditions and able to operate independently in a zero-gravity environment. 

It is known that Sierra Space has reached an agreement with NASA for resupply flights to the ISS in 2022. The company has also signed a contract with Blue Origin - an airline headed by Jeff Bezos, to develop a space station. a private base called Orbital Reef. This is considered as a complex of space stations, also known as "space trade center", with a series of accompanying services from production, business, entertainment, sports.

Under the original plan, Blue Origin would manufacture the utility systems, core modules, and launch systems based on the station's reusable New Glenn rocket. Meanwhile, Sierra Space contributes large Integrated Flexible Environment (LIFE) modules and the vehicle is the Dream Chaser spacecraft.