Lockheed Martin and Sierra Nevada’s space systems division have introduced the orbital spacecraft composite airframe of the Dream Chaser vehicle that SNC is developing for NASA’s human spaceflight program. Mark Sirangelo, corporate vice president of space systems, said Friday that Lockheed has begun work to to manufacture the Dream Chaser orbital structure airframes. The structure will serve as […] More

Sierra Nevada Corp. has completed two NASA milestone tests on the Dream Chaser spacecraft’s flight hardware systems, moving the program closer to the critical design review phase and first flight, Phys.org reported Thursday. Ken Kremer reports that the Milestone 9 and Milestone 9a tests cover design risk reduction and technology readiness level assessments. “These crucial validations are vital […] More

Siemens‘ PLM software unit and Sierra Nevada Corp.‘s space systems business are expanding their partnership through the SNC Dream Chaser program’s “Dream Team,” where Siemens will support development of spacecraft technologies. SNC said Tuesday that Siemens’ membership in the Dream Team is an extension of their long-time business relationship, as Siemens provides its engineering software tools to support SNC’s spacecraft […] More

Lockheed Martin and Sierra Nevada‘s alliance has moved to increase manufacturing work on a private space taxi at NASA’s Michoud Assembly Facility in New Orleans. SNC has been contracted to build the next-generation Dream Chaser spacecraft for NASA and is working with Lockheed to produce the spaceship’s composite structures, the companies said Tuesday. “We will […] More

Sierra Nevada Corp. wants to procure a United Launch Alliance-built rocket as the company prepares for an orbital flight in November 2016. Sierra Nevada will also establish an operation site at NASA Kennedy Space Center where its Dream Chaser spacecraft will be launched into space aboard an Atlas V rocket, NASA said Thursday. “SNC is […] More

Sierra Nevada will collaborate with international space organizations to further develop the company’s Dream Chaser space taxi under a NASA commercial program, the Denver Business Journal reported Wednesday. Greg Avery writes that Sierra Nevada, the European Space Agency and the German Aerospace Center have forged an alliance to explore potential technologies for the spaceship. Mark Sirangelo, […] More

Sierra Space will advance the development of a 35,000 lbf thrust upper stage engine under a 27-month, $22.6 million firm-fixed-price contract from the U.S. Air Force. Work for the maturation of Vortex advanced upper stage engine or VR35K-A will involve designing flight-weight engine components through the use of component and integrated breadboard engine test data, […] More

Erik Daehler, former senior director at Lockheed Martin, has joined Sierra Nevada Corp.‘s space-focused business arm as vice president of orbital systems and services, according to his LinkedIn post. The executive has over two decades of aerospace and defense experience and is now responsible for the development of satellite products and services at Sierra Space. […] More

The space-focused business of Sierra Nevada Corp. will provide Maxar Technologies with solar power services and production capability to support 16 satellites that are used for the latter’s proliferated low Earth orbit spacecraft platform. Sierra Space said Monday its solar arrays, which are currently in production, will be used to meet the requirements of the […] More

Sierra Nevada Corp. has wrapped up a critical design review of a 35,000 lbf thrust upper stage engine its Sierra Space subsidiary co-developed with the Air Force Research Laboratory. The Vortex upper stage engine or VR35K-A demonstrated safe operation on the test stand, with Sierra Space also showcasing engine and equipment technical readiness, concept of […] More

Sierra Nevada Corp.‘s space business and a Spirit AeroSystems subsidiary have teamed up to boost the production of cargo modules for a space transport vehicle aimed at supporting NASA resupply missions. Sierra Space said Tuesday it will work with Spirit Defense & Space on Shooting Star cargo module system design, fabrication, assembly, integration and test […] More

A Sierra Nevada subsidiary is close to completing the first Dream Chaser spaceplane being built at a facility in Colorado, SpaceNews reported Friday. Sierra Space has yet to install thermal protection systems and other components into the vehicle, dubbed Tenacity. Sierra Space CEO Tom Vice said the spaceplane’s structural testing is already completed and the […] More