Sparks-based Sierra Nevada Corp. says it has NASA launch window for spacecraft

SPARKS, Nev. (News 4 & Fox 11) — Sparks-based Sierra Nevada Corporation says it has received a launch window from NASA for its Dream Chaser spacecraft to resupply the International Space Station.

The company announced Wednesday that Dream Chaser's first mission is scheduled for launch in late 2020.

"SNC has been successfully completing critical design milestones as approved by NASA, and having a timetable for the first launch is another important step achieved for us," Fatih Ozmen, owner and CEO of SNC, said in a statement. "The team has worked so hard to get to this point and we can’t wait to fulfill this mission for NASA."

Dream Chaser would be able to deliver more than 12,000 pounds of pressurized and unpressurized supplies and scientific research payloads, according to SNC.

It could also return around 4,400 pounds of cargo "via pinpoint landing at" the NASA Kennedy Space Center shuttle landing facility.

The company said in November that Dream Chaser, which has been in development for more than 10 years, had a successful free-flight drop test in the Mojave Desert.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.