What Is Sierra Space & Why Is It Important?
In recent years we are starting to see a lot more private companies make great progress and contribute to the general space industry. This has been in many different ways through large rockets, small-lift launch vehicles, suborbital accelerators, and more. All of which help add value and encourage innovation through the industry. Sierra Space is another private company working to do something similar.
Sierra Space is a private company working towards enabling humanity to begin new civilizations beyond Earth. Specifically, Sierra Space is working on different ambitious projects including a spaceplane, commercial space station, environmental systems, rocket engines, and more. All of which works towards the goal of increasing our access to space and going beyond Earth.
The private company has a long list of different projects and experience in the space industry. Each has a specific goal and different unique aspects to it. This is necessary due to the long list of complications for humans not only visiting but living in space. Sierra Space could likely become a very big company in the future depending on how they innovate and develop new technology.
Sierra Space Background & Goal
Sierra Space is a private company helping humanity go to space in different ways. Sierra Space builds and delivers the future of space transportation, destinations, and infrastructure, offering “space-as-a-service” in support of the new space economy. The private company is a subsidiary of SNC or Sierra Nevada Corporation. Sierra Space envisions a future where humanity lives, works, and operates in space and distant planets.
The company also has a long list of past experiences and has contributed to many different missions. Specifically, Sierra Space has provided more than 4,000 space systems, subsystems, and components to customers worldwide, and participated in more than 500 missions to space, including Mars. The company as I mentioned prior works on many different aspects of spaceflight, living, and more. The company has technology in production and in development to enable space habitats for short- and long-duration space travel, a fleet of Dream Chaser spaceplanes, and the first free-flying commercial space station. All of which is working towards a brighter and more prominent future in the environment of space and beyond.
Current & Future Projects
Spaceplane – The first project that I wanted to focus on was Sierra Space’s spaceplane called Dream Chaser. This is a very unique launch vehicle designed as a multi-mission utility vehicle for crew and cargo missions into low Earth orbit. This includes locations like the International Space Station or other future Earth space stations. In early 2016 NASA announced they had chosen the Dream Chaser for six supply missions to the ISS. The Dream Chaser has a lot of unique features that separate it from a majority of operational launch vehicles. Some of the key features include pilotless launch, high reusability (15+ times), low 1.5G atmospheric entry, land on runways across the world, immediate access to crew and cargo upon landing, and 5,500kg payload capacity to the International Space Station. Dream Chaser can be customized for both domestic and international customers through vehicle configuration, launch site, destination, landing site, duration, and a host of other variables. Overall this spaceplane is meant to be extremely versatile. It is planning missions with crew, cargo, and more to anything within low Earth orbit. The launch vehicle has not flown yet however the first launch is planned for 2022.
Orbital Reef – Another big project Sierra Space is working on is Orbital Reef. Orbital Reef is a commercial space station mainly under development by Blue Origin and Sierra Space. The goal is to provide a one-of-a-kind environment in space for anyone. This includes tourists, businesses, and more. Here they can test manufacturing, development of products, and more in space. Sierra Space plays a big role for multiple reasons. One is creating habitats and modules for the space station. Specifically, Sierra Space is working on a Large Integrated Flexible Environment (LIFE) habitat. This technology is meant to help with creating and providing living conditions in space, Mars, and beyond. Another way the company is contributing to the Orbital Reef project is through Dream Chaser. The spaceplane is meant to not only deliver necessary pieces of equipment for the mission but humans as well. Sierra Space is planning to launch astronauts to and from the space station safely. This is a key aspect of the Orbital Reef plan and why Sierra Space is so vital to the mission.
Environmental Systems – Sierra Space is not only focused on launch vehicles and habitats but also on different environmental systems. The company is dedicated to creating the next generation of microgravity bio-agricultural products through system and service solutions that increase plant productivity with dramatic operational cost savings. Sierra Space’s knowledge and experience on this topic come from 20 years of research for NASA. The company has done a lot of work around science payload and bioproducts. Some of the applications of their research and development include accelerated research and development of plant-made products, and optimizing and validating growth and bio-manufacturing environmental conditions. Sierra Space has also put a lot of work into LED lights systems, bioproduction systems, advanced plant habitats, and human support systems. I only named some of the more prominent environmental systems that Sierra Space is working on. Due to the decades of research, the company has a lot of different development and goals. Research into environmental systems has been very important for the company as its necessary for future life in space and beyond.
Rocket Engines – Finally I want to mention Sierra Space’s development of rocket engines and propulsion technology. The company has consistently been working towards more powerful engines that are also safer and cost-effective. The company works to provide patented rocket propulsion technologies, state-of-the-art testing, analysis services, and decades of experience within the use of planetary resources for civil space, commercial space, and military operations. An example of this could be Sierra Space’s patented VORTEX engine. The design enables dramatic cost savings thanks to its high durability, reusability, and reliability. The company has put a lot of focus on engines and propulsion not only to develop engines but help improve future launch vehicles including the spaceplane and more.
Impact On The Industry
Sierra Space has already provided countless technology and developments throughout the space industry. While that has been very valuable, the company has a long list of ambitious plans for the future. If successful, these plans could be extremely beneficial to the industry. Developments would help increase space access and lower the cost to launch. The company’s work on habitats and environmental systems could be the stepping stone for future civilizations and living in space or on different planets. The more companies and agencies capable of sending humans into space, and working on advanced technology the better. All of which inspires, innovates, and works towards a better future for not only space development but life on Earth as well.
Conclusion
Sierra Space is a private company that has been developing technology for a very long time. The company is also working on a lot of ambitious projects for the future. Some of Sierra Space’s main developments include Dream Chaser, Orbital Reef, environmental systems, and rocket engines. All of which are meant to increase access to space and lower costs. Based on the success of different projects, we could see a future where Sierra Space becomes a major player in the space industry. We will have to wait and see how each project develops and the future impact it has on the space industry and Earth.