SpaceDev, a California company that has provided components to Scaled Composites' SpaceShipOne, has started its own project to develop a reusable, piloted, suborbital spaceship. SpaceDev is not aiming for the X Prize, but says it is looking at a long-term program that could be scaled up to transport passengers to and from low earth orbit, including the International Space Station. The "SpaceDev Dream Chaser" would take off vertically and glide back to earth for a horizontal runway landing. "This project is one small step for SpaceDev, but could evolve into one giant leap for affordable, commercial human space flight," said CEO Jim Benson in a news release on Monday. Benson told Space.com the Dream Chaser could make its maiden flight by 2008 if it is fully funded. The project is currently a partially funded effort, he said.
This is a companion discussion topic for the original entry at https://www.avweb.com/briefs/spacedev-announces-space-program