Mark Sirangelo, VP and Chair, SNC Space Systems Board, Sierra Nevada Corp. is seen during a press conference, Tuesday, Feb. 2, 2010, at the National Press Club in Washington, where it was announced that NASA has awarded $50 million through funded agreements to further the commercial sector's capability to support transport of crew to and from low Earth orbit. Photo Credit: (NASA/Bill Ingalls)

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – Mark Sirangelo, corporate vice president and head of Sierra Nevada Corporation, or SNC, Space Systems, announces the steps the company will take to prepare for a November 2016 orbital flight of its Dream Chaser spacecraft from Florida’s Space Coast. The steps are considered substantial for SNC and important to plans by NASA and Space Florida for Kennedy Space Center’s transformation into a multi-user spaceport for both commercial and government customers. SNC said it plans to work with United Launch Alliance, or ULA, to launch the Dream Chaser spacecraft into orbit atop an Atlas V rocket from Space Launch Complex 41 at Cape Canaveral Air Force Station intends to land the winged spacecraft at Kennedy’s 3.5-mile long runway at the Shuttle Landing Facility lease office space at Exploration Park, right outside Kennedy’s gates and process the spacecraft in the high bay of the Operations and Checkout Building at Kennedy, with Lockheed Martin performing the work. Photo credit: NASA/Kim Shiflett

NASA Special Assistant to the Administrator Mark Sirangelo testifies during the House Subcommittee on Space and Aeronautics hearing titled "Keeping our sights on Mars: A Review of NASA's Deep Space Exploration Programs and Lunar Proposal", Wednesday, May 8, 2019 at the Rayburn House Office Building in Washington. Photo Credit: (NASA/Bill Ingalls)

NASA Special Assistant to the Administrator Mark Sirangelo testifies during the House Subcommittee on Space and Aeronautics hearing titled "Keeping our sights on Mars: A Review of NASA's Deep Space Exploration Programs and Lunar Proposal", Wednesday, May 8, 2019 at the Rayburn House Office Building in Washington. Photo Credit: (NASA/Bill Ingalls)

NASA Special Assistant to the Administrator Mark Sirangelo testifies during the House Subcommittee on Space and Aeronautics hearing titled "Keeping our sights on Mars: A Review of NASA's Deep Space Exploration Programs and Lunar Proposal", Wednesday, May 8, 2019 at the Rayburn House Office Building in Washington. Photo Credit: (NASA/Bill Ingalls)

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – Michael Gass, president and CEO of United Launch Alliance, or ULA, left, talks to Mark Sirangelo, corporate vice president and head of Sierra Nevada Corporation, or SNC, Space Systems at Space Launch Complex 41 at Cape Canaveral Air Force Station in Florida. Behind the duo is ULA’s Atlas V rocket, which will carry NASA’s Tracking and Data Relay Satellite-L, or TDRS-L, into orbit. SNC announced it plans to work with ULA to launch the Dream Chaser spacecraft into orbit in November 2016 intends to land the winged spacecraft at the 3.5-mile-long runway at Kennedy Space Center’s Shuttle Landing Facility lease office space at Exploration Park, right outside Kennedy’s gates and process the spacecraft in the high bay of the Operations and Checkout Building at Kennedy, with Lockheed Martin performing the work. The announcements made during a news conference at Kennedy are considered substantial for SNC and important to plans by NASA and Space Florida for Kennedy’s transformation into a multi-user spaceport for both commercial and government customers. Photo credit: NASA/Cory Huston

NASA and aerospace industry representatives tour facilities along Florida’s Space Coast prior to announcements made by Sierra Nevada Corporation, or SNC, Space Systems, to prepare for a November 2016 orbital flight of its Dream Chaser spacecraft. Walking along the 3.5-mile-long runway at Kennedy Space Center’s Shuttle Landing Facility are, from left, Frank DiBello, president and CEO of Space Florida Steve Lindsey, Dream Chaser program manager for SNC Space Systems Bob Cabana, director of NASA’s Kennedy Space Center Mark Sirangelo, corporate vice president and head of SNC Space Systems and Charlie Bolden, administrator of NASA.

NASA Special Assistant to the Administrator Mark Sirangelo listens as NASA Associate Administrator, Human Exploration and Operations William Gerstenmaier testifies during the House Subcommittee on Space and Aeronautics hearing titled "Keeping our sights on Mars: A Review of NASA's Deep Space Exploration Programs and Lunar Proposal", Wednesday, May 8, 2019 at the Rayburn House Office Building in Washington. Photo Credit: (NASA/Bill Ingalls)

NASA Associate Administrator, Human Exploration and Operations William Gerstenmaier, left, and NASA Special Assistant to the Administrator Mark Sirangelo, watch as a video is played during the House Subcommittee on Space and Aeronautics hearing titled "Keeping our sights on Mars: A Review of NASA's Deep Space Exploration Programs and Lunar Proposal", Wednesday, May 8, 2019 at the Rayburn House Office Building in Washington. Photo Credit: (NASA/Bill Ingalls)

NASA Associate Administrator, Human Exploration and Operations William Gerstenmaier, left, and NASA Special Assistant to the Administrator Mark Sirangelo, testify during the House Subcommittee on Space and Aeronautics hearing titled "Keeping our sights on Mars: A Review of NASA's Deep Space Exploration Programs and Lunar Proposal", Wednesday, May 8, 2019 at the Rayburn House Office Building in Washington. Photo Credit: (NASA/Bill Ingalls)

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – NASA and aerospace industry representatives tour facilities along Florida’s Space Coast prior to announcements made by Sierra Nevada Corporation, or SNC, Space Systems, to prepare for a November 2016 orbital flight of its Dream Chaser spacecraft. Posing for a photo in front of a United Launch Alliance, or ULA, Atlas V rocket are, from left, Bob Cabana, director of NASA’s Kennedy Space Center Steve Lindsey, Dream Chaser program manager for SNC Space Systems and Mark Sirangelo, corporate vice president and head of SNC Space Systems. The announcements made during a news conference at Kennedy are considered substantial for SNC and important to plans by NASA and Space Florida for Kennedy’s transformation into a multi-user spaceport for both commercial and government customers. SNC announced it plans to work with ULA to launch the Dream Chaser spacecraft into orbit atop an Atlas V rocket from Space Launch Complex 41 at Cape Canaveral Air Force Station intends to land the winged spacecraft at the 3.5-mile-long runway at Kennedy’s Shuttle Landing Facility lease office space at Exploration Park, right outside Kennedy’s gates and process the spacecraft in the high bay of the Operations and Checkout Building at Kennedy, with Lockheed Martin performing the work. Photo credit: NASA/Cory Huston

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – NASA and aerospace industry representatives tour facilities along Florida’s Space Coast prior to announcements made by Sierra Nevada Corporation, or SNC, Space Systems, to prepare for a November 2016 orbital flight of its Dream Chaser spacecraft. Posing for a photo in front of a United Launch Alliance, or ULA, Atlas V rocket are, from left, Bob Cabana, director of NASA’s Kennedy Space Center Mark Sirangelo, corporate vice president and head of SNC Space Systems and Steve Lindsey, Dream Chaser program manager for SNC Space Systems. The announcements made during a news conference at Kennedy are considered substantial for SNC and important to plans by NASA and Space Florida for Kennedy’s transformation into a multi-user spaceport for both commercial and government customers. SNC announced it plans to work with ULA to launch the Dream Chaser spacecraft into orbit atop an Atlas V rocket from Space Launch Complex 41 at Cape Canaveral Air Force Station intends to land the winged spacecraft at the 3.5-mile-long runway at Kennedy’s Shuttle Landing Facility lease office space at Exploration Park, right outside Kennedy’s gates and process the spacecraft in the high bay of the Operations and Checkout Building at Kennedy, with Lockheed Martin performing the work. Photo credit: NASA/Cory Huston

NASA Associate Administrator, Human Exploration and Operations William Gerstenmaier, left, NASA Associate Administrator for Legislative Affairs Suzanne Gillen, center, and NASA Special Assistant to the Administrator Mark Sirangelo, confer prior to the start of the House Subcommittee on Space and Aeronautics hearing titled "Keeping our sights on Mars: A Review of NASA's Deep Space Exploration Programs and Lunar Proposal", Wednesday, May 8, 2019 at the Rayburn House Office Building in Washington. Photo Credit: (NASA/Bill Ingalls)

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – NASA and aerospace industry representatives tour facilities along Florida’s Space Coast prior to announcements made by Sierra Nevada Corporation, or SNC, Space Systems, to prepare for a November 2016 orbital flight of its Dream Chaser spacecraft. Walking along the 3.5-mile-long runway at Kennedy Space Center’s Shuttle Landing Facility are, from left, Frank DiBello, president and CEO of Space Florida Steve Lindsey, Dream Chaser program manager for SNC Space Systems Bob Cabana, director of NASA’s Kennedy Space Center Mark Sirangelo, corporate vice president and head of SNC Space Systems and Charlie Bolden, administrator of NASA. The announcements made during a news conference at Kennedy are considered substantial for SNC and important to plans by NASA and Space Florida for Kennedy’s transformation into a multi-user spaceport for both commercial and government customers. SNC announced it plans to work with United Launch Alliance, or ULA, to launch the Dream Chaser spacecraft into orbit atop an Atlas V rocket from Space Launch Complex 41 at Cape Canaveral Air Force Station intends to land the winged spacecraft at the Shuttle Landing Facility lease office space at Exploration Park, right outside Kennedy’s gates and process the spacecraft in the high bay of the Operations and Checkout Building at Kennedy, with Lockheed Martin performing the work. Photo credit: NASA/Cory Huston

NASA Associate Administrator, Human Exploration and Operations William Gerstenmaier, left, NASA Special Assistant to the Administrator Mark Sirangelo, Director, Cornell Center for Astrophysics and Planetary Science, Co-Chair of the Former Committee on Human Spaceflight, National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine Dr. Jonathan Lunine, Chair, Aerospace Safety Advisory Panel Dr. Patricia Sanders, and, President, Faulconer Consulting Group, LLC Mr. Walt Faulconer, right, are seen during a House Subcommittee on Space and Aeronautics hearing titled "Keeping our sights on Mars: A Review of NASA's Deep Space Exploration Programs and Lunar Proposal", Wednesday, May 8, 2019 at the Rayburn House Office Building in Washington. Photo Credit: (NASA/Bill Ingalls)

From left, Ken Bowersox, VP Astronaut Safety, SpaceX, David Thompson, CEO, Orbital Science Corporation, Mark Sirangelo, VP and Chair, SNC Space Systems Board, Sierra Nevada Corp., NASA Administrator Charles Bolden, Assistant to the President for Science and Technology and Director of the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy Dr. John P. Holdren, Jane Poynter, President and Chair, Paragon Space Development Corp., Brewster Shaw, VP and General Manager, NASA Systems, Boeing, Robert Millman of Blue Origin, and, Mike Gass, President and Chief Executive, United Launch Alliance, pose for a group photo during a press conference, Tuesday, Feb. 2, 2010, at the National Press Club in Washington, where it was announced that NASA has awarded $50 million through funded agreements to further the commercial sector's capability to support transport of crew to and from low Earth orbit. Photo Credit: (NASA/Bill Ingalls)

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – NASA and aerospace industry representatives tour facilities along Florida’s Space Coast prior to announcements made by Sierra Nevada Corporation, or SNC, Space Systems, to prepare for a November 2016 orbital flight of its Dream Chaser spacecraft. Standing at the base of Space Launch Complex 41 at Cape Canaveral Air Force Station in Florida, from left, are Steve Lindsey, Dream Chaser program manager for SNC Space Systems Charlie Bolden, administrator of NASA Bob Cabana, director of NASA’s Kennedy Space Center Michael Gass, president and CEO of United Launch Alliance, or ULA and Mark Sirangelo, corporate vice president and head of SNC Space Systems. SNC announced it plans to work with ULA to launch the Dream Chaser spacecraft into orbit atop an Atlas V rocket from Space Launch Complex 41 at Cape Canaveral Air Force Station intends to land the winged spacecraft at the 3.5-mile-long runway at Kennedy’s Shuttle Landing Facility lease office space at Exploration Park, right outside Kennedy’s gates and process the spacecraft in the high bay of the Operations and Checkout Building at Kennedy, with Lockheed Martin performing the work. The announcements made during a news conference at Kennedy are considered substantial for SNC and important to plans by NASA and Space Florida for Kennedy’s transformation into a multi-user spaceport for both commercial and government customers. Photo credit: NASA/Cory Huston

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – Sierra Nevada Corporation, or SNC, Space Systems, announces the steps the company will take to prepare for a November 2016 orbital flight of its Dream Chaser spacecraft from Florida’s Space Coast during a news conference at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida. Participants, from left, are Bob Cabana, director of Kennedy Michael Gass, president and CEO of United Launch Alliance, or ULA Frank DiBello, president and CEO of Space Florida Mark Sirangelo, corporate vice president and head of SNC Space Systems Larry Price, Lockheed Martin Space Systems deputy program manager for NASA's Orion spacecraft and Steve Lindsey, Dream Chaser program manager for SNC Space Systems. The steps are considered substantial for SNC and important to plans by NASA and Space Florida for Kennedy’s transformation into a multi-user spaceport for both commercial and government customers. SNC said it plans to work with ULA to launch the Dream Chaser spacecraft into orbit atop an Atlas V rocket from Space Launch Complex 41 at Cape Canaveral Air Force Station intends to land the winged spacecraft at Kennedy’s 3.5-mile long runway at the Shuttle Landing Facility lease office space at Exploration Park, right outside Kennedy’s gates and process the spacecraft in the high bay of the Operations and Checkout Building at Kennedy, with Lockheed Martin performing the work. Photo credit: NASA/Kim Shiflett

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – Sierra Nevada Corporation, or SNC, Space Systems, announces the steps the company will take to prepare for a November 2016 orbital flight of its Dream Chaser spacecraft from Florida’s Space Coast during a news conference at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida. Participants, from left, are Bob Cabana, director of Kennedy Michael Gass, president and CEO of United Launch Alliance, or ULA Frank DiBello, president and CEO of Space Florida Mark Sirangelo, corporate vice president and head of SNC Space Systems Larry Price, Lockheed Martin Space Systems deputy program manager for NASA's Orion spacecraft and Steve Lindsey, Dream Chaser program manager for SNC Space Systems. The steps are considered substantial for SNC and important to plans by NASA and Space Florida for Kennedy’s transformation into a multi-user spaceport for both commercial and government customers. SNC said it plans to work with ULA to launch the Dream Chaser spacecraft into orbit atop an Atlas V rocket from Space Launch Complex 41 at Cape Canaveral Air Force Station intends to land the winged spacecraft at Kennedy’s 3.5-mile long runway at the Shuttle Landing Facility lease office space at Exploration Park, right outside Kennedy’s gates and process the spacecraft in the high bay of the Operations and Checkout Building at Kennedy, with Lockheed Martin performing the work. Photo credit: NASA/Kim Shiflett

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – Sierra Nevada Corporation, or SNC, Space Systems, announces the steps the company will take to prepare for a November 2016 orbital flight of its Dream Chaser spacecraft from Florida’s Space Coast during a news conference at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida. Participants are, from left, Michael Curie, NASA spokesman, Bob Cabana, director of Kennedy, Michael Gass, president and CEO of United Launch Alliance, or ULA, Frank DiBello, president and CEO of Space Florida, Mark Sirangelo, corporate vice president and head of SNC Space Systems, Larry Price, Lockheed Martin Space Systems deputy program manager for NASA's Orion spacecraft, and Steve Lindsey, Dream Chaser program manager for SNC Space Systems. The steps are considered substantial for SNC and important to plans by NASA and Space Florida for Kennedy’s transformation into a multi-user spaceport for both commercial and government customers. SNC said it plans to work with ULA to launch the Dream Chaser spacecraft into orbit atop an Atlas V rocket from Space Launch Complex 41 at Cape Canaveral Air Force Station intends to land the winged spacecraft at Kennedy’s 3.5-mile long runway at the Shuttle Landing Facility lease office space at Exploration Park, right outside Kennedy’s gates and process the spacecraft in the high bay of the Operations and Checkout Building at Kennedy, with Lockheed Martin performing the work. Photo credit: NASA/Kim Shiflett

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – NASA and aerospace industry representatives tour facilities along Florida’s Space Coast prior to announcements made by Sierra Nevada Corporation, or SNC, Space Systems, to prepare for a November 2016 orbital flight of its Dream Chaser spacecraft. Posing for a photo in front of a United Launch Alliance, or ULA, Atlas V rocket are, from left, Bob Cabana, director of NASA’s Kennedy Space Center Steve Lindsey, Dream Chaser program manager for SNC Space Systems Michael Gass, president and CEO of United Launch Alliance, or ULA Mark Sirangelo, corporate vice president and head of SNC Space Systems and Charlie Bolden, administrator of NASA. The announcements made during a news conference at Kennedy are considered substantial for SNC and important to plans by NASA and Space Florida for Kennedy’s transformation into a multi-user spaceport for both commercial and government customers. SNC announced it plans to work with ULA to launch the Dream Chaser spacecraft into orbit atop an Atlas V rocket from Space Launch Complex 41 at Cape Canaveral Air Force Station intends to land the winged spacecraft at the 3.5-mile-long runway at Kennedy’s Shuttle Landing Facility lease office space at Exploration Park, right outside Kennedy’s gates and process the spacecraft in the high bay of the Operations and Checkout Building at Kennedy, with Lockheed Martin performing the work. Photo credit: NASA/Cory Huston

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – NASA and aerospace industry representatives tour facilities along Florida’s Space Coast prior to announcements made by Sierra Nevada Corporation, or SNC, Space Systems, to prepare for a November 2016 orbital flight of its Dream Chaser spacecraft. Posing for a photo along the 3.5-mile-long runway at Kennedy Space Center’s Shuttle Landing Facility are, from left, Mark Sirangelo, corporate vice president and head of SNC Space Systems Frank DiBello, president and CEO of Space Florida Steve Lindsey, Dream Chaser program manager for SNC Space Systems Bob Cabana, director of NASA’s Kennedy Space Center and Charlie Bolden, administrator of NASA. The announcements made during a news conference at Kennedy are considered substantial for SNC and important to plans by NASA and Space Florida for Kennedy’s transformation into a multi-user spaceport for both commercial and government customers. SNC announced it plans to work with United Launch Alliance, or ULA, to launch the Dream Chaser spacecraft into orbit atop an Atlas V rocket from Space Launch Complex 41 at Cape Canaveral Air Force Station intends to land the winged spacecraft at the Shuttle Landing Facility lease office space at Exploration Park, right outside Kennedy’s gates and process the spacecraft in the high bay of the Operations and Checkout Building at Kennedy, with Lockheed Martin performing the work. Photo credit: NASA/Cory Huston

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – NASA and aerospace industry representatives tour facilities along Florida’s Space Coast prior to announcements made by Sierra Nevada Corporation, or SNC, Space Systems, to prepare for a November 2016 orbital flight of its Dream Chaser spacecraft. Posing for a photo in front of a United Launch Alliance, or ULA, Atlas V rocket are, from left, Bob Cabana, director of NASA’s Kennedy Space Center Michael Gass, president and CEO of United Launch Alliance, or ULA Mark Sirangelo, corporate vice president and head of SNC Space Systems Steve Lindsey, Dream Chaser program manager for SNC Space Systems and Charlie Bolden, administrator of NASA. The announcements made during a news conference at Kennedy are considered substantial for SNC and important to plans by NASA and Space Florida for Kennedy’s transformation into a multi-user spaceport for both commercial and government customers. SNC announced it plans to work with ULA to launch the Dream Chaser spacecraft into orbit atop an Atlas V rocket from Space Launch Complex 41 at Cape Canaveral Air Force Station intends to land the winged spacecraft at the 3.5-mile-long runway at Kennedy’s Shuttle Landing Facility lease office space at Exploration Park, right outside Kennedy’s gates and process the spacecraft in the high bay of the Operations and Checkout Building at Kennedy, with Lockheed Martin performing the work. Photo credit: NASA/Cory Huston

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – Frank DiBello, president and CEO of Space Florida, joins Sierra Nevada Corporation, or SNC, Space Systems, as the company announces the steps it will take to prepare for a November 2016 orbital flight of its Dream Chaser spacecraft from Florida’s Space Coast. The steps are considered substantial for SNC and important to plans by NASA and Space Florida for Kennedy Space Center’s transformation into a multi-user spaceport for both commercial and government customers. SNC said it plans to work with United Launch Alliance, or ULA, to launch the Dream Chaser spacecraft into orbit atop an Atlas V rocket from Space Launch Complex 41 at Cape Canaveral Air Force Station intends to land the winged spacecraft at Kennedy’s 3.5-mile long runway at the Shuttle Landing Facility lease office space at Exploration Park, right outside Kennedy’s gates and process the spacecraft in the high bay of the Operations and Checkout Building at Kennedy, with Lockheed Martin performing the work. Photo credit: NASA/Kim Shiflett

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. -- At a news conference NASA officials and industry partners discuss progress of the agency's Commercial Crew Program. Among those participating in the briefing is Mark Sirangelo, Sierra Nevada Corp. vice president and SNC Space Systems chairman. Through CCP, NASA is facilitating the development of U.S. commercial crew space transportation capabilities to achieve safe, reliable and cost-effective access to and from low-Earth orbit for potential future government and commercial customers. For more information, visit http://www.nasa.gov/commercialcrew Photo credit: NASA/Kim Shiflett

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – Larry Price, Lockheed Martin Space Systems deputy program manager for NASA's Orion spacecraft, joins Sierra Nevada Corporation, or SNC, Space Systems, as the company announces the steps it will take to prepare for a November 2016 orbital flight of its Dream Chaser spacecraft from Florida’s Space Coast. The steps are considered substantial for SNC and important to plans by NASA and Space Florida for Kennedy Space Center’s transformation into a multi-user spaceport for both commercial and government customers. SNC said it plans to work with United Launch Alliance, or ULA, to launch the Dream Chaser spacecraft into orbit atop an Atlas V rocket from Space Launch Complex 41 at Cape Canaveral Air Force Station intends to land the winged spacecraft at Kennedy’s 3.5-mile long runway at the Shuttle Landing Facility lease office space at Exploration Park, right outside Kennedy’s gates and process the spacecraft in the high bay of the Operations and Checkout Building at Kennedy, with Lockheed Martin performing the work. Photo credit: NASA/Kim Shiflett

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. -- Kennedy Space Center Director Bob Cabana, left, Mark Sirangelo, head of Sierra Nevada Space Systems (SNSS) of Sparks, Nev., and NASA Administrator Charlie Bolden pose for a photo after signing a Space Act Agreement that will offer the company technical capabilities from Kennedy's uniquely skilled work force. Kennedy will help Sierra Nevada with the ground operations support of its lifting body reusable spacecraft called "Dream Chaser," which resembles a smaller version of the space shuttle orbiter. The spacecraft would carry as many as seven astronauts to the space station. Through the new agreement, Kennedy's work force will use its experience of processing the shuttle fleet for 30 years to help Sierra Nevada define and execute Dream Chaser's launch preparations and post-landing activities. In 2010 and 2011, Sierra Nevada was awarded grants as part of the initiative to stimulate the private sector in developing and demonstrating human spaceflight capabilities for NASA's Commercial Crew Program. The goal of the program, which is based in Florida at Kennedy, is to facilitate the development of a U.S. commercial crew space transportation capability by achieving safe, reliable and cost-effective access to and from the space station and future low Earth orbit destinations. Photo credit: NASA/Jim Grossmann

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. -- NASA Administrator Charlie Bolden, left, Kennedy Space Center Director Bob Cabana, and Mark Sirangelo, head of Sierra Nevada Space Systems (SNSS) of Sparks, Nev., talk to media after signing a Space Act Agreement that will offer the company technical capabilities from Kennedy's uniquely skilled work force. Kennedy will help Sierra Nevada with the ground operations support of its lifting body reusable spacecraft called "Dream Chaser," which resembles a smaller version of the space shuttle orbiter. The spacecraft would carry as many as seven astronauts to the space station. Through the new agreement, Kennedy's work force will use its experience of processing the shuttle fleet for 30 years to help Sierra Nevada define and execute Dream Chaser's launch preparations and post-landing activities. In 2010 and 2011, Sierra Nevada was awarded grants as part of the initiative to stimulate the private sector in developing and demonstrating human spaceflight capabilities for NASA's Commercial Crew Program. The goal of the program, which is based in Florida at Kennedy, is to facilitate the development of a U.S. commercial crew space transportation capability by achieving safe, reliable and cost-effective access to and from the space station and future low Earth orbit destinations. Photo credit: NASA/Jim Grossmann

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. -- At NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida, the agency hosts a media briefing highlighting the four companies selected for the second round of the Commercial Crew Development (CCDev2) efforts. From left, are Michael Braukus, NASA Public Affairs specialist; Phil McAlister, acting director of Commercial Spaceflight Development at NASA Headquarters; Ed Mango, program manager for NASA's Commercial Crew Program at Kennedy; Rob Meyerson, program manager of Blue Origin; Mark Sirangelo, program manager of Sierra Nevada; Garrett Reisman, program manager of SpaceX; and John Elbon, program manager of The Boeing Company. NASA awarded $269.3 million to these companies to accelerate the availability of U.S. commercial crew transportation capabilities and reduce the gap in American human spaceflight capability. Through this activity, NASA also may be able to spur economic growth as potential new space markets are created. Once developed, crew transportation capabilities could become available to commercial and government customers. Photo credit: NASA_Jim Grossmann

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. -- At a news conference NASA officials and industry partners discuss progress of the agency's Commercial Crew Program CCP. Participating in the briefing, from the left are, Mike Curie, NASA Public Affairs, Ed Mango, NASA Commercial Crew Program manager, Phil McAlister, NASA Commercial Spaceflight Development director, Rob Meyerson, Blue Origin president and program manager, John Mulholland, The Boeing Company Commercial Programs Space Exploration vice president and program manager, Mark Sirangelo, Sierra Nevada Corp. vice president and SNC Space Systems chairman and Garrett Reisman, Space Exploration Technologies SpaceX Commercial Crew project manager. Through CCP, NASA is facilitating the development of U.S. commercial crew space transportation capabilities to achieve safe, reliable and cost-effective access to and from low-Earth orbit for potential future government and commercial customers. For more information, visit http://www.nasa.gov/commercialcrew Photo credit: NASA/Kim Shiflett

NASA Associate Administrator, Human Exploration and Operations William Gerstenmaier testifies during the House Subcommittee on Space and Aeronautics hearing titled "Keeping our sights on Mars: A Review of NASA's Deep Space Exploration Programs and Lunar Proposal", Wednesday, May 8, 2019 at the Rayburn House Office Building in Washington. Photo Credit: (NASA/Bill Ingalls)

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. -- NASA and Sierra Nevada Space Systems (SNSS) of Sparks, Nev., prepare to sign a Space Act Agreement that will offer the company technical capabilities from Kennedy Space Center's uniquely skilled work force. Sitting, from left, are Kennedy Public Affairs Director Lisa Malone; NASA Administrator Charlie Bolden; Kennedy Center Director Bob Cabana; and Mark Sirangelo, head of Sierra Nevada. Standing, from left, are Joyce Riquelme, manager of Kennedy's Center Planning and Development Office; John Curry, director of Sierra Nevada's Systems Integration, Test and Operations; Kennedy Deputy Director Janet Petro; Jim Voss, vice president of Sierra Nevada's Space Exploration Systems; and Merri Sanchez, senior director of Sierra Nevada's Space Exploration Systems. Kennedy will help Sierra Nevada with the ground operations support of its lifting body reusable spacecraft called "Dream Chaser," which resembles a smaller version of the space shuttle orbiter. The spacecraft would carry as many as seven astronauts to the space station. Through the new agreement, Kennedy's work force will use its experience of processing the shuttle fleet for 30 years to help Sierra Nevada define and execute Dream Chaser's launch preparations and post-landing activities. In 2010 and 2011, Sierra Nevada was awarded grants as part of the initiative to stimulate the private sector in developing and demonstrating human spaceflight capabilities for NASA's Commercial Crew Program. The goal of the program, which is based in Florida at Kennedy, is to facilitate the development of a U.S. commercial crew space transportation capability by achieving safe, reliable and cost-effective access to and from the space station and future low Earth orbit destinations. Photo credit: NASA/Jim Grossmann

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. -- NASA and Sierra Nevada Space Systems (SNSS) of Sparks, Nev., enter into a Space Act Agreement that will offer the company technical capabilities from Kennedy Space Center's uniquely skilled work force. Sitting, from left, are NASA Administrator Charlie Bolden; Kennedy Center Director Bob Cabana; and Mark Sirangelo, head of Sierra Nevada. Standing, from left, Kennedy Deputy Director Janet Petro; Jim Voss, vice president of Sierra Nevada's Space Exploration Systems; and Merri Sanchez, senior director of Sierra Nevada's Space Exploration Systems. Kennedy will help Sierra Nevada with the ground operations support of its lifting body reusable spacecraft called "Dream Chaser," which resembles a smaller version of the space shuttle orbiter. The spacecraft would carry as many as seven astronauts to the space station. Through the new agreement, Kennedy's work force will use its experience of processing the shuttle fleet for 30 years to help Sierra Nevada define and execute Dream Chaser's launch preparations and post-landing activities. In 2010 and 2011, Sierra Nevada was awarded grants as part of the initiative to stimulate the private sector in developing and demonstrating human spaceflight capabilities for NASA's Commercial Crew Program. The goal of the program, which is based in Florida at Kennedy, is to facilitate the development of a U.S. commercial crew space transportation capability by achieving safe, reliable and cost-effective access to and from the space station and future low Earth orbit destinations. Photo credit: NASA/Jim Grossmann

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. -- NASA and Sierra Nevada Space Systems (SNSS) of Sparks, Nev., sign a Space Act Agreement that will offer the company technical capabilities from Kennedy Space Center's uniquely skilled work force. Sitting, from left, are Kennedy Public Affairs Director Lisa Malone; NASA Administrator Charlie Bolden; Kennedy Center Director Bob Cabana; and Mark Sirangelo, head of Sierra Nevada. Standing, from left, are Frank DiBello, president of Space Florida; Joyce Riquelme, manager of Kennedy's Center Planning and Development Office; John Curry, director of Sierra Nevada's Systems Integration, Test and Operations; Kennedy Deputy Director Janet Petro; Jim Voss, vice president of Sierra Nevada's Space Exploration Systems; and Merri Sanchez, senior director of Sierra Nevada's Space Exploration Systems. Kennedy will help Sierra Nevada with the ground operations support of its lifting body reusable spacecraft called "Dream Chaser," which resembles a smaller version of the space shuttle orbiter. The spacecraft would carry as many as seven astronauts to the space station. Through the new agreement, Kennedy's work force will use its experience of processing the shuttle fleet for 30 years to help Sierra Nevada define and execute Dream Chaser's launch preparations and post-landing activities. In 2010 and 2011, Sierra Nevada was awarded grants as part of the initiative to stimulate the private sector in developing and demonstrating human spaceflight capabilities for NASA's Commercial Crew Program. The goal of the program, which is based in Florida at Kennedy, is to facilitate the development of a U.S. commercial crew space transportation capability by achieving safe, reliable and cost-effective access to and from the space station and future low Earth orbit destinations. Photo credit: NASA/Jim Grossmann