Sierra Space

The planned decommissioning of the International Space Station (ISS) requires the development of new transportation and habitation infrastructure in low Earth orbit. Formed in 2021 following a spin-off from the Sierra Nevada Corporation, Sierra Space was created specifically to develop and deploy the cornerstones of this future commercial space economy.

The company relies on two core technologies. It is developing the Dream Chaser, a reusable spaceplane capable of transporting cargo and astronauts, which is unique in its ability to land gently on conventional runways. At the same time, it is developing the LIFE modules, inflatable space habitats whose flexible structure, once deployed in a vacuum, provides an extremely spacious living and research area, equivalent to the volume of a three-story building.

The ambition and viability of this business model have won over the financial markets in a big way. Since its founding in 2021, the company has raised a record $1.4 billion, followed by additional funding that has propelled its valuation to $5.3 billion. Partnering with Blue Origin to jointly build the future commercial space station Orbital Reef, Sierra Space is now positioning itself as a key infrastructure builder for ensuring a continuous human presence in space.

‍