An artist's concept of Sierra Nevada's Dream Chaser space plane docking with the International Space Station.
Sierra Nevada Corporation (SNC) Space Systems' Dream Chaser flight vehicle is lifted by an Erickson Air-Crane helicopter near the Rocky Mountain Metropolitan Airport in Jefferson County, Colo., on May 29, during a captive-carry test.
Sierra Nevada Corporation is developing its Dream Chaser spaceplane to ferry astronauts to Earth orbit and to the International Space Station.
An artist's rendering of the Dream Chaser and Atlas 5 rocket on the launch pad.
Dream Chaser launches on an Atlas V rocket in this artist's conception.
An artistic rendition of the Dream Chaser vehicle launching into space.
Dream Chaser docks with the International Space Station in this artist's conception.
A view of the Dream Chaser's cockpit-based flight simulator.
An artist's depiction of the Dream Chaser vehicle landing on a conventional runway at the end of its mission.
SpaceDev rolled out their Dream Chaser space plane this week.
NASA Deputy Administrator Lori Garver talks during a press conference with Sierra Nevada's Dream Chaser spacecraft in the background on Saturday, Feb. 5, 2011, at the University of Colorado at Boulder. Sierra Nevada's Dream Chaser spacecraft is under development with support from NASA's Commercial Crew Development Program to provide crew transportation to and from low Earth orbit. NASA is helping private companies develop innovative technologies to ensure that the U.S. remains competitive in future space endeavors.
Dream Chaser's hybrid rocket motor fires at SNC Propulsion Facility, Poway, Calif.
An artist's interpretation of the Dream Chaser vehicle after spacecraft separation.
The Dream Chaser structural test article at the University of Colorado at Boulder, FAST Lab.
The Dream Chaser fuselage was on display Nov. 16, 2011, at Sierra Nevada Corp's SpaceDev division in Louisville, CO.
SPACE.com Managing Editor Tariq Malik approaches the runway in the Dream Chaser training simulator during a visit Nov. 16, 2011, to Sierra Nevada Corp's SpaceDev division in Louisville, CO.
An artist's rendering of Dream Chaser approaching the International Space Station.
An artist's impression of the Dream Chaser vehicle and its crew after landing.
The Dream Chaser model with its Atlas V launch vehicle is undergoing final preparations at the Aerospace Composite Model Development Section's workshop for buffet tests at the Transonic Dynamics Tunnel at NASA Langley. Image released May 7, 2012.
