The Dream Chaser, designed and built by Louisville-based Sierra Nevada Corporation's Space Systems, is aiming to be the next NASA vehicle to take humans to space. The program announced Thursday, Jan. 23, 2014, that it had acquired a launch vehicle with United Launch Alliance and was going to send its first mission in Nov. 2016. (The Denver Post | Sierra Nevada Corporation)

Sierra Nevada's Louisville-based Space Systems has a new mission: Doing science in space.

The Dream Chaser for Science, or DC4Science, is a variant of the Dream Chaser spacecraft designed as an orbiting microgravity laboratory.

"We can create a custom lab that allows us to dedicate the lab space to whatever the scientific purpose is," Space Systems vice president, Mark Sirangelo said.

The spacecraft allows for customized experimental payloads to be sent to space for three different types of missions: Short-term flights with scientist astronauts on board; uncrewed months-long missions; and longer duration missions of a year or more.

The vacuum of space is considered a purer environment in which to conduct science. Experiments currently aboard the International Space Station include research into aging, cancer cells, experimental medications and more, the findings from which can have direct applications back on Earth.

In addition to the customizable aspect, there is one major difference between experiments on board DC4Science and those being performed on the space station.

"Customers will maintain scientific intellectual property rights, free from Federal Research Laboratory regulations that govern the International Space Station," said John Roth, Space Systems' vice president of business development.

Sirangelo said CD4Science is a direct tie-in with Space Systems' Global Project space-flight program, announced in September. The program is designed to assist countries that lack the resources to build their own space program by offering them the option of buying seats aboard a Dream Chaser flight or purchasing their own spacecraft. September

Laura Keeney: 303-954-1337, lkeeney@denverpost.com or twitter.com/LauraKeeney

Continue reading here:

Sierra Nevada's Dream Chaser heads to space for science