Huntsville could soon see spacecraft flying into the city.
Huntsville International Airport is working with Sierra Space to land their new spacecraft on airport runways. Pending approval from the Federal Aviation Administration, Sierra Space is hoping to land their Dream Chaser vehicle. The spacecraft is a small vehicle that resembles the Space Shuttle. The Dream Chaser would deliver a crew and cargo to the International Space Station.
Rick Tucker is the CEO of Huntsville International Airport. Tucker said Huntsville is the perfect city to collaborate with Sierra Space.
“We’re a community that’s been involved in those kinds of things throughout this country’s space efforts, but there is an excitement within the community about the prospect of a vehicle landing here from space, in our community,” he said.
Tucker said this collaboration is something that could benefit both the city of Huntsville, and Sierra Space.
“You know from their perspective, it demonstrates that this particular vehicle – you know it might not launch in a community but it could land in, you know multiple – if they’re able to do it here in Huntsville, they could do it in many, many places.”
Tucker said getting approval from the FAA could take at least two years. Sierra Space plans to launch their first Dream Chaser in 2022.