Sierra Space

Sierra Space: A Commercial Space Company

Sierra Space is a leading commercial space company headquartered in Boulder, CO, USA. It has multiple facilities across the United States, including locations in Colorado, Wisconsin, Florida, North Carolina, and Alabama.

Established in April 2021 as a spin-off from Sierra Nevada Corporation, Sierra Space focuses on developing innovative space transportation, infrastructure, and technologies to advance the commercial space economy.

Flagship Project – Dream Chaser®

One of Sierra Space's flagship projects is the Dream Chaser® spaceplane, a reusable, winged vehicle designed for cargo and crew missions. It is selected by NASA under the Commercial Resupply Service 2 contract.

Dream Chaser can deliver up to 12,000 pounds of cargo to the International Space Station (ISS) and return critical data to Earth. Its design supports smooth, low-gravity re-entry and landing on commercial runways worldwide.

Orbital Reef Collaboration

In collaboration with Blue Origin, Sierra Space is developing Orbital Reef, a commercial space station intended as a mixed-use business park in low Earth orbit.

Scheduled to be operational by 2027, Orbital Reef aims to provide platforms for industries such as:

• Pharmaceuticals
• Manufacturing
• Research

This enables utilization of microgravity environments for diverse applications.

Space Technologies and Defense Initiative

Sierra Space also offers a range of space technologies and subsystems, including electrical power, environmental systems, rocket engines, and propulsion technologies. These support many space missions and enhance commercial space sustainability.

In June 2025, the company launched a dedicated defense business unit addressing national security in space.

This initiative includes plans to expand manufacturing capacity for a growing portfolio of defense contracts, reflecting Sierra Space's commitment to enhancing U.S. defense capabilities in space.

Recognition and Workforce

The company’s innovative approach and offerings have earned it industry recognition. In January 2024, Sierra Space was named in Built In’s 2024 Best Places to Work Awards, ranking among the 100 Best Large Places to Work in Colorado.

In November 2024, Fast Company recognized it as a winner in the Space and Telecom category of its annual Next Big Things in Tech list, highlighting its potential to transform the space industry.

With approximately 2,000 employees across multiple states, Sierra Space continues driving advancements in space technology to make space more accessible and beneficial for life on Earth.

Locations

• Boulder, CO, USA
• Colorado
• Wisconsin
• Florida
• North Carolina
• Alabama