Dream Chaser aircraft landing after the free-flight test at Edwards Air Force Base in California, US. Credit: Sierra Nevada Corporation.

Azur Space Solar Power has been selected to build solar panels for Sierra Nevada’s (SNC) first Dream Chaser spacecraft.

The selection is based on a competitive procurement process and will see the supply of Azur Space 3G30C-Advanced solar cells, which will power the spacecraft.

Azur Space’s manufacturing facilities in Heilbronn, Germany, will build the solar cells.

“This is a significant step forward for the Azur Space team in demonstrating performance, heritage and best value.”

Azur Space managing director Juergen Heizmann said: “Our entrance in the US multi-junction solar panel market two-plus years ago has been very well-received by the space power community, as demonstrated by SNC’s selection of the Azur Space team to supply high-efficiency solar panels for the Dream Chaser programme.

“This is a significant step forward for the Azur Space team in demonstrating performance, heritage and best value.”

The Dream Chaser is expected to provide cargo services to and from the International Space Station for a minimum of six missions to be conducted between 2019 and 2024 underNasa’s Commercial Resupply Services Contract (CRS2).

All the proposed Dream Chaser CRS2 cargo missions are expected to land at Kennedy Space Center’s Shuttle Landing Facility runway in the US.

Currently under development by SNC, the Dream Chaser will be the only commercial lifting-body vehicle designed for a runway landing.

Last month, SNC conducted an atmospheric free-flight test of the spacecraft.

During the test, a full-scale Dream Chaser test vehicle was lifted from a Columbia Helicopters Model 234-UT Chinook helicopter and then released to fly a pre-planned flight path.

The flight was ended with an autonomous landing on a runway at Edwards Air Force Base in California, US.