Company - Sierra Space (Sierra Nevada Corp, SNC)
Product/Service - Dream Chaser, Shooting Star
- Classification
- Cargo Transportation & Landers
- Category
- Transport Service (Earth-LEO)
Transport Service (Re-Entry)
Microgravity Flight Service (Reusable Satellite)
- Fields
- Space Capsule
Reusable
Automated Microgravity Laboratory
- Status
- Development
- First launch
- 2024
Dream Chaser
The First-Ever Winged Commercial Spaceplane
- Capable of gentle 1.5G runway landings, ideal for precious cargo, especially human passengers.
- Accommodates more than 12,000 pounds of supplies and equipment.
- NASA resupply missions for the International Space Station begin in 2023.
- Configuration intended for up to seven crewmembers, plus critical supplies.
- Compatible with a wide array of current and future launch vehicles.
Sierra Space completes first Dream Chaser, SpaceNews, 2023-11-06.
Human Spaceflight Center
Product/Service - Orbital Reef, LIFE Habitat
- Classification
- Space Stations & Habitats
- Category
- Commercial Space Station
- Fields
- Commercial ISS Module
Inflatable Atmospheric Decelerator
- Status
- Development
- First launch
- 2026
Orbital Reef
LIFE Habitat (Large Integrated Flexible Environment)
Plans to launch a commercial space station with inflatable human habitats within seven years. The company's orbiting space station has no name yet. The space station is a configuration of multiple large inflatable LIFE™ habitats that can be serviced by both cargo and crew carrying Dream Chaser® spaceplanes. SNC also released that a crewed Dream Chaser will be able to shuttle private astronauts and to serve as the only vehicle capable of rescuing astronauts from space destinations and returning them to Earth via a safe and speedy runway landing.
- The two companies announced Aug. 21 that Redwire will provide a set of equipment that will be installed on a Sierra Space inflatable module known as Large Integrated Flexible Environment (LIFE). That “pathfinder” module will be launched later this decade for commercial pharmaceutical and other biotech research.
- In an interview, Mike Gold, chief growth officer of Redwire, called the agreement the first of its kind. “For the first time, a private sector company has contracted with another private sector company for substantive microgravity research and development hardware for pharmaceutical development.”
- Volume: 5000 m3
- Length: 22m
- Diameter: 19m
- Fairing: 9m
- Advancements
- Increased Crew Capabilities
- Increased Volume Allocations
- Increased Layout Capabilities
- Softgoods Optimization
- Truss Optimization
- ECLSS Systems Optimization
- Power & Thermal Optimization
News
- NASA will partner with seven U.S. companies to meet future commercial and government needs, ultimately benefitting human spaceflight and the U.S. commercial low Earth orbit economy. Through unfunded Space Act Agreements, the second Collaborations for Commercial Space Capabilities-2 initiative (CCSC-2) is designed to advance commercial space-related efforts through NASA contributions of technical expertise, assessments, lessons learned, technologies, and data. Sierra Space is collaborating with NASA for the development of the company’s commercial low Earth orbit ecosystem, including next-generation space transportation, in-space infrastructure, and expandable and tailorable space facilities providing a human presence in low Earth orbit.
- At an investor conference in June 2023, Sierra Space was planning a launch of a standalone LIFE module as a “pathfinder” for future commercial space stations as soon as the end of 2026. That would be used, he said, for commercial pharmaceutical and other biotech research.
- Sierra Space tests full-scale inflatable module, SpaceNews, 2024-01-22.
Created: 2023-02-18
Updated: 2024-07-15
Product/Service - Veggie, XROOTS
- Classification
- In-Space Manufacturing
- Category
- In-Space Manufacturing
- Fields
- Food for Space
- Status
- Demonstrated
- First launch
- 2014
Space Food
In March of 2014, Veggie, a modularly designed vegetable production plant growth unit, developed and built in partnership with Sierra Space and Kennedy Space Center, was integrated by NASA aboard the International Space Station (ISS). This system provided sufficient lighting for plant growth making it possible for to successfully grow red romaine lettuce. After a safety analysis in 2015, U.S. astronauts were able to eat fresh produce for the first time on-orbit.
Created: 2023-02-18
Updated: 2024-01-22
Product/Service
- Classification
- Space Resources
- Category
- ISRU (In Situ Resource Utilization)
Space Resources
Resources - Energy
- Fields
- Oxygen
Hydrogen
Moon
- Status
- Development
- First launch
- Not announced
ISRU
DARPA LunA-10 Program Study, 2023-2024
Created: 2024-01-13
Updated: 2024-03-02
Product/Service - Ghost
- Classification
- Cargo Transportation & Landers
- Category
- Transport Service (Earth-LEO)
Transport Service (Re-Entry)
Microgravity Flight Service (Reusable Satellite)
- Fields
- Space Capsule
Reusable
Automated Microgravity Laboratory
- Status
- Development
- First launch
- 2024
Additional background on Sierra Space Ghost:
- On-orbit time of five years, vehicles are outfitted with pre-determined supplies (a survival kit, inflatable boat, rations, weaponry, etc.) pre-staged on orbit.
- On call-up, the system re-orients and begins re-entry/targeting cycle; the de-orbit motor slows the vehicle to 7,000 meters per second.
- Gravity then captures the vehicle and it begins to re-enter Earth’s atmosphere with the thermal protection shield withstanding temperatures up to 2,000 degrees Fahrenheit.
- Once through atmosphere, the shield is then discarded leaving just the requested payload and a parafoil.
- At the right altitude, the parafoil is released and it steers the payload to the required area within 100 meters.
News
- Successful drop test of Axelerator Beta reentry vehicle.
- Sierra Space Ghost Enters Flight Test Enabling Global Payload Delivery in 90 Minutes, 2024-04-08.
Created: 2024-02-03
Updated: 2024-07-29
Sources
Most sources should be linked in the texts and headings as revealed by mouse-over, but here are they listed for visibility.
News, Research, Projects and Patents
| Title | Type | Date | Summary |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sustaining Life Beyond Earth: Space Farming Technology for Extended Space Exploration | News | 2024-02-05 | |
| The next and most profound industrial revolution in human history is underway in Low Earth Orbit | News | 2023-01-13 | |
| XROOTS Environmental System: Delivering Sustainability in Space | Article | 2022-10-17 | |
| Building the Space Economy with Sierra Space, York Space Systems, & Orbit Fab (Executive Podcast) | Video | 2022-10-07 | |
| Improving Life on Earth through a Shared Platform in Space | Video | 2022-03-11 | > Tomorrow, the medicine that will save a child's life - will be invented on a shared platform in space. |
| SNC continues Inflatable LIFE Habitat Work for Deep Space Destinations | News | 2020-08-10 | |
| Three companies studying “Orbital Outpost” space station concepts for Defense Department | News | 2020-07-19 | > Three companies have received study contracts from a Defense Department agency regarding concepts for small, uncrewed space stations in low Earth orbit, although none of the awards yet fund spacecraft construction. |
| SNC Selected by the Department of Defense to Design, Develop Unmanned Orbital Outpost Prototype | Project | 2020-07-14 | > Awarded a contract to repurpose SNC’s Shooting Star transport vehicle as a proposed commercial solution for an Unmanned Orbital Outpost – essentially a scalable, autonomous space station for experiments and logistics demonstrations – by the Defense Innovation Unit (DIU). SNC’s Shooting Star transport vehicle serves as the core structure for the proposed design. |
Similar Organizations
Space Situational Awareness (SSA), Space Traffic Management, Active Debris Removal (ADR), Resources - Space Debris Utilization, Transport Service (Earth-LEO)
Active, Concept
Blue Ring
Transport Service (Earth-LEO), Transport Service (LEO-GEO), Persistent Platform, Space Tug, Robotic Space Station, In-Space Logistics, Space Logistics Platform, In-Orbit Computing, In-Space Mobility
Development
CST-100 Starliner
Human Spaceflight, Transport Service (Earth-LEO), Human Landing System
Demonstrated
ION
Space Tug, In-Orbit Computing, Transport Service (Earth-LEO), Orbital Transportation, In-Space Logistics
Active
Transport Service (Earth-LEO), Commercial Space Station, Propellant Refuel Station, Propellant Refilling
Concept
Transport Service (Earth-LEO), Transport Service (Re-Entry)
Early stage
Interspace Explore
ZengZhang
Transport Service (Re-Entry), Microgravity Flight Service (Reusable Satellite), Transport Service (Earth-LEO)
Development
HSRC (HTV Small Re-entry Capsule), HTV, HTV-X
Transport Service (Re-Entry), Transport Service (Earth-LEO), Microgravity Flight Service (LEO), Lunar Lander
Demonstrated
Orbiter
Space Tug, Transport Service (Earth-LEO)
Active, Discontinued, ?
VIA
Space Tug, Transport Service (Earth-LEO), Orbital Transportation, Hardware, Software
Development, Concept
Moon Dancer
Transport Service (Earth-LEO)
Cancelled, Development
Messerschmitt-Bolkow-Blohm
SPAS (Space Pallet Satellite), Saenger, Sänger
Microgravity Flight Service (LEO), Microgravity Flight Service (Reusable Satellite), Reusable Satellite, Point-to-point, Transport Service (Earth-LEO), Robotic Space Station
Cancelled, Acquired
Cygnus
Transport Service (Earth-LEO)
Active
Earth Port
Space Elevator, Transport Service (Earth-LEO)
Concept
Transport Service (Earth-LEO), Transport Service (Re-Entry)
Early stage
Ferry, Cargo Ferry
In-Space Manufacturing, Transport Service (Earth-LEO), Transport Service (Re-Entry)
Development, Launched
Aurora
Transport Service (Earth-LEO)
Development
Radian One
Transport Service (Earth-LEO), Microgravity Flight Service (LEO), Microgravity Flight Service (Reusable Satellite), Human Spaceflight, Transport Service (Re-Entry)
Development
Skylon
Transport Service (Earth-LEO), Microgravity Flight Service (Reusable Satellite)
Concept
Redshift
Transport Service (Earth-LEO), Transport Service (LEO-GEO), Transport Service (LEO-Moon)
Development
ARGO
Microgravity Flight Service (Reusable Satellite), Transport Service (Re-Entry), Microgravity Flight Service (LEO), Transport Service (Earth-LEO)
Concept, Development
IOSHEXA
Space Tug, Transport Service (Earth-LEO), Active Debris Removal (ADR)
Development
Modular Transport System (MTS)
Space Tug, Transport Service (Earth-LEO), Transport Service (LEO-GEO), Transport Service (LEO-Moon)
Concept
Space Elevator, Transport Service (Earth-LEO)
Early stage
RoWo
Commercial Space Station, Robotic Space Station, Persistent Platform, In-Space Assembly, Transport Service (Earth-LEO), On-Orbit Servicing
Development
Crew Dragon
Human Spaceflight, Transport Service (Earth-LEO)
Active
Starship, Starship HLS, Starship Human Landing System
Human Landing System, Transport Service (Earth-LEO), Transport Service (Re-Entry), Transport Service (LEO-Moon), Point-to-point
Development, Launched
Dragon, Dragon 2, Cargo Dragon
Transport Service (Earth-LEO), Transport Service (Re-Entry)
Active
Nyx
Transport Service (Earth-LEO), Transport Service (LEO-Moon), In-Space Manufacturing, Microgravity Flight Service (LEO), Microgravity Flight Service (Reusable Satellite), Commercial Lander, Commercial Lunar Lander
Development
Transport Service (Re-Entry), Microgravity Flight Service (LEO), Microgravity Workspaces
Cancelled, Development
Commercial Sample Return, Transport Service (Re-Entry)
Concept, Dormant
Asteroid Mining Spacecraft
Resources - Asteroid Mining, Space Mining, Transport Service (Re-Entry)
Development
Inflatable Atmospheric Decelerator (IAD), Space Return Service, Phoenix
Transport Service (Re-Entry), In-Space Manufacturing, Microgravity Flight Service (LEO), Microgravity Flight Service (Reusable Satellite)
Development
SpaceDrone
Transport Service (Re-Entry), Space Tug, Reusable Satellite, Microgravity Flight Service (Reusable Satellite)
Early stage
Mk-II Aurora, Mk-III
Microgravity Flight Service (Suborbital), Transport Service (Re-Entry), Suborbital Testbed
Development
Transport Service (Re-Entry), Microgravity Flight Service (LEO), Microgravity Flight Service (Reusable Satellite)
Development, ?
Back From Space (BFS)
Transport Service (Re-Entry)
Concept
Transport Service (Re-Entry), Reusable Satellite
Concept, Development
ELS-R, ELS-RS
Microgravity Flight Service (LEO), Microgravity Flight Service (Reusable Satellite), Transport Service (Re-Entry)
Development
Foton Spacecraft
Foton
Microgravity Flight Service (LEO), Transport Service (Re-Entry)
Retired
Hyperion
Transport Service (Re-Entry), Transport Service (LEO-Moon), Commercial Lander, Commercial Lunar Lander, Space Tug, Orbital Transportation
Early stage
Transport Service (Earth-LEO), Transport Service (Re-Entry)
Early stage
Retriever, Resource Exchange Module (REX)
Transport Service (Re-Entry), Microgravity Flight Service (LEO), Microgravity Flight Service (Reusable Satellite), Persistent Platform, Robotic Space Station
Development
MERCAP
Transport Service (Re-Entry), Microgravity Flight Service (Reusable Satellite)
Early stage
Interspace Explore
ZengZhang
Transport Service (Re-Entry), Microgravity Flight Service (Reusable Satellite), Transport Service (Earth-LEO)
Development
URV (Universal Re-entry Vechicle)
Transport Service (Re-Entry), Microgravity Flight Service (Reusable Satellite), Microgravity Flight Service (LEO)
Cancelled
Ray, Arc
Transport Service (Re-Entry), In-Space Manufacturing, Microgravity Flight Service (LEO), Microgravity Flight Service (Reusable Satellite)
Development
HSRC (HTV Small Re-entry Capsule), HTV, HTV-X
Transport Service (Re-Entry), Transport Service (Earth-LEO), Microgravity Flight Service (LEO), Lunar Lander
Demonstrated
LEAP
In-Space Manufacturing, Microgravity Flight Service (LEO), Transport Service (Re-Entry)
Development
VBK-Raduga
Transport Service (Re-Entry)
Dormant, Discontinued
Glide2
Transport Service (Re-Entry), Hardware
Development
Transport Service (Earth-LEO), Transport Service (Re-Entry)
Early stage
Ferry, Cargo Ferry
In-Space Manufacturing, Transport Service (Earth-LEO), Transport Service (Re-Entry)
Development, Launched
Space Truck
Space Tug, On-Orbit Servicing, In-Space Manufacturing, In-Space Assembly, Transport Service (Re-Entry), Orbital Transportation
Cancelled, Development
Olympus, Pythom Spaceship
Commercial Lander, Commercial Lunar Lander, Transport Service (Re-Entry), Commercial Space Station
Early stage
Radian One
Transport Service (Earth-LEO), Microgravity Flight Service (LEO), Microgravity Flight Service (Reusable Satellite), Human Spaceflight, Transport Service (Re-Entry)
Development
LASER (Lunar Ascent Sample Earth Return)
Transport Service (Re-Entry), Commercial Sample Return
Idea, Dormant
Transport Service (Re-Entry), Microgravity Flight Service (LEO)
Early stage
In-Space Manufacturing, Transport Service (Re-Entry), Microgravity Flight Service (LEO)
Development
Transport Service (Re-Entry), Microgravity Flight Service (Reusable Satellite), Microgravity Flight Service (LEO), In-Space Manufacturing
Dormant, Early stage
Microgravity Flight Service (LEO), Microgravity Flight Service (Reusable Satellite), Transport Service (Re-Entry)
Development
ARGO
Microgravity Flight Service (Reusable Satellite), Transport Service (Re-Entry), Microgravity Flight Service (LEO), Transport Service (Earth-LEO)
Concept, Development
ARGO
Transport Service (Re-Entry)
Dormant, Early stage
Oryx, Mini Space Brake (MSB)
Transport Service (Re-Entry), In-Space Manufacturing, Resources - Water, Resources - Asteroid Mining, Space Mining, ISRU (In Situ Resource Utilization)
Dormant
Meteoroid Complementary Descent Module, ASTREO
Space Tug, Transport Service (Re-Entry), In-Space Logistics
Concept
RED-25, RED-DATA2
Transport Service (Re-Entry), Microgravity Flight Service (LEO)
Launched, Demonstrated, Development
Starship, Starship HLS, Starship Human Landing System
Human Landing System, Transport Service (Earth-LEO), Transport Service (Re-Entry), Transport Service (LEO-Moon), Point-to-point
Development, Launched
Dragon, Dragon 2, Cargo Dragon
Transport Service (Earth-LEO), Transport Service (Re-Entry)
Active
Transport Service (Re-Entry), Microgravity Flight Service (LEO), Microgravity Flight Service (Reusable Satellite)
Development
Transport Service (Re-Entry)
Development
VSI-LAB
Microgravity Flight Service (LEO), Transport Service (Re-Entry), Microgravity Flight Service (Reusable Satellite)
Early stage, Dormant
In-Space Manufacturing, In-Space Production, Microgravity Flight Service (Reusable Satellite), Transport Service (Re-Entry)
Demonstrated, Development
SpaceCase
Transport Service (Re-Entry), Microgravity Flight Service (Reusable Satellite), Microgravity Flight Service (LEO)
Development
ASTROLAB SAS
Commercial Space Station, Reusable Satellite, Microgravity Flight Service (Reusable Satellite)
Development
Inflatable Atmospheric Decelerator (IAD), Space Return Service, Phoenix
Transport Service (Re-Entry), In-Space Manufacturing, Microgravity Flight Service (LEO), Microgravity Flight Service (Reusable Satellite)
Development
SpaceDrone
Transport Service (Re-Entry), Space Tug, Reusable Satellite, Microgravity Flight Service (Reusable Satellite)
Early stage
Transport Service (Re-Entry), Microgravity Flight Service (LEO), Microgravity Flight Service (Reusable Satellite)
Development, ?
Transport Service (Re-Entry), Reusable Satellite
Concept, Development
ELS-R, ELS-RS
Microgravity Flight Service (LEO), Microgravity Flight Service (Reusable Satellite), Transport Service (Re-Entry)
Development
FSW
Microgravity Flight Service (LEO), Microgravity Flight Service (Reusable Satellite), Reusable Satellite, Recoverable Satellite, Returnable Satellite
Development
On-Orbit Servicing, Reusable Satellite, Space Robotics
Early stage
Retriever, Resource Exchange Module (REX)
Transport Service (Re-Entry), Microgravity Flight Service (LEO), Microgravity Flight Service (Reusable Satellite), Persistent Platform, Robotic Space Station
Development
MERCAP
Transport Service (Re-Entry), Microgravity Flight Service (Reusable Satellite)
Early stage
Interspace Explore
ZengZhang
Transport Service (Re-Entry), Microgravity Flight Service (Reusable Satellite), Transport Service (Earth-LEO)
Development
URV (Universal Re-entry Vechicle)
Transport Service (Re-Entry), Microgravity Flight Service (Reusable Satellite), Microgravity Flight Service (LEO)
Cancelled
Ray, Arc
Transport Service (Re-Entry), In-Space Manufacturing, Microgravity Flight Service (LEO), Microgravity Flight Service (Reusable Satellite)
Development
Messerschmitt-Bolkow-Blohm
SPAS (Space Pallet Satellite), Saenger, Sänger
Microgravity Flight Service (LEO), Microgravity Flight Service (Reusable Satellite), Reusable Satellite, Point-to-point, Transport Service (Earth-LEO), Robotic Space Station
Cancelled, Acquired
Microgravity Flight Service (LEO), Reusable Satellite, Commercial Space Station, Robotic Space Station, In-Space Platform, Persistent Platform
Development
Radian One
Transport Service (Earth-LEO), Microgravity Flight Service (LEO), Microgravity Flight Service (Reusable Satellite), Human Spaceflight, Transport Service (Re-Entry)
Development
Skylon
Transport Service (Earth-LEO), Microgravity Flight Service (Reusable Satellite)
Concept
Transport Service (Re-Entry), Microgravity Flight Service (Reusable Satellite), Microgravity Flight Service (LEO), In-Space Manufacturing
Dormant, Early stage
Microgravity Flight Service (LEO), Microgravity Flight Service (Reusable Satellite), Transport Service (Re-Entry)
Development
ARGO
Microgravity Flight Service (Reusable Satellite), Transport Service (Re-Entry), Microgravity Flight Service (LEO), Transport Service (Earth-LEO)
Concept, Development
REV1
ISS Utilization Service, Microgravity Flight Service (LEO), Microgravity Flight Service (Reusable Satellite)
Development
ForgeStar, Aether
Microgravity Flight Service (LEO), Microgravity Flight Service (Reusable Satellite), In-Space Manufacturing
Development
Space Rider
Microgravity Flight Service (LEO), Microgravity Flight Service (Reusable Satellite)
Development
TangoLab, CubeLabs
ISS Utilization Service, Microgravity Flight Service (LEO), Microgravity Flight Service (Reusable Satellite)
Active
ST-42
ISS Utilization Service, Microgravity Flight Service (LEO), Microgravity Flight Service (Reusable Satellite)
Early stage, ?
Microgravity Flight Service (LEO), Microgravity Flight Service (Reusable Satellite)
Development
Black Bay
Space Tug, Transport Service (LEO-GEO), Orbital Transportation, Propellant Refilling, Propellant Refuel Station, Reusable Satellite
Dormant, Bankrupt
DragonLab
Microgravity Flight Service (LEO), Microgravity Flight Service (Reusable Satellite)
Dormant
Microgravity Flight Service (LEO), Microgravity Flight Service (Reusable Satellite), Robotic Space Station, Microgravity Research Payloads, In-Space Manufacturing
Development
Transport Service (Re-Entry), Microgravity Flight Service (LEO), Microgravity Flight Service (Reusable Satellite)
Development
Nyx
Transport Service (Earth-LEO), Transport Service (LEO-Moon), In-Space Manufacturing, Microgravity Flight Service (LEO), Microgravity Flight Service (Reusable Satellite), Commercial Lander, Commercial Lunar Lander
Development
VSI-LAB
Microgravity Flight Service (LEO), Transport Service (Re-Entry), Microgravity Flight Service (Reusable Satellite)
Early stage, Dormant
In-Space Manufacturing, In-Space Production, Microgravity Flight Service (Reusable Satellite), Transport Service (Re-Entry)
Demonstrated, Development
SpaceCase
Transport Service (Re-Entry), Microgravity Flight Service (Reusable Satellite), Microgravity Flight Service (LEO)
Development