Check Out This Hypersonic Aircraft ‘Dream Chaser’

It’s compact, with a short wingspan and overall length of 30 feet. By comparison, the NASA space shuttle retired in 2011 measures four times longer.

Its little stature belies its most striking function: LIFE (Large Integrated Flexible Environment) habitat, an inflatable structure that connects to the back of the spaceplane and broadens in orbit into globular living quarters measuring 27 feet in size, the equivalent of a three-story structure.

The soft material can deflect the impact of meteors and other area particles much better than titanium or Kevlar.

The spacecraft’s compact footprint makes it possible for a key advancement: the capability to land horizontally on any business runway that can accommodate a Boeing 747 or Jet A380.

Sierra Area is currently building a network of spaceports that includes New Mexico’s Spaceport America as well as centers in Oita, Japan, and Cornwall, England.

The long-lasting objective is to land on commercial runways at airports worldwide. Dream Chaser currently has FAA approval to land at Alabama’s Huntsville International Airport.

Relying on its area, Orbital Reef is approximately 3 days from Earth.

The industrial applications Sierra Space expects business to develop there variety from the 3D printing human organs to space-based materials for clothes.

Every day, the scientists will dine at the Blue Dot, digesting the galactic views.

“There’s an emotional effect you experience while looking down at our beautiful planet,” Vice says.

“You realize that everything we know, everything we’ve invented, everything we’ve accomplished as a human race, was on this little-blue dot.”