Dream Chaser

Sierra Nevada's Dream Chaser spacecraft on the ground. (NASA photo)

SPARKS, Nev. – Sierra Nevada Corp. said late Friday it has filed a legal challenge to NASA's selection of Boeing and SpaceX to provide the next generation of space access for American astronauts. Sierra Nevada was also in the running for a contract, but not selected.

The privately owned space company said its Dream Chaser spacecraft, which resembles a mini-space shuttle, met all of NASA's criteria and was substantially less expensive than one of the companies chosen. It did not specific which company it was referring to in a press release announcing the challenge. Read the company's full statement here.

Sierra Nevada said it has never challenged a government contract award in 51 years of business, but in this case NASA's own documents "indicate there are serious questions and inconsistencies in the source selection process."

The company says the $6.8 billion in contracts announced for Boeing and SpaceX will cost taxpayers "up to $900 million more" than a choice that included Sierra Nevada. It had the second-lowest-price proposal of the competition, the company said.