Sierra Space

Last week, we joined The White House National Space Council to discuss how we can help empower future leaders. Workforce development is essential for driving innovation, maintaining competitiveness, and ensuring the long-term sustainability of the space industry. By investing in education and training, we can create a diverse and skilled workforce that will lead us into the future.

We are revitalizing the U.S. defense industrial base through innovative satellite and spacecraft systems technology. Since 2023, Sierra Space has secured $1.5 billion in national security and defense contracts including the most recent “Quick Start” Resilient GPS (R-GPS) contract by the U.S. Space Force (USSF) Space Systems Command to produce design concepts for smaller, more cost-effective GPS satellites. Link: https://bit.ly/3YmsbxH

At Sierra Space, we pride ourselves on providing our interns with a diverse and enriching experience. This summer, Emmanuel Mendoza, an intern in Flight Operations, worked on various challenging projects, including creating a mission control model, improving mockup room lighting, developing software, and automating constraint violation investigations. His internship also included memorable experiences like meeting astronauts, participating in mission control simulations, and engaging with subject matter experts. Emmanuel's journey exemplifies the growth and opportunities our internship program offers, and we look forward to seeing his future achievements.   Blog: https://lnkd.in/ecrrimkR

Nick Hahn, a Sr. Engineering Manager for Flight Software and Ground Software at Sierra Space, has had several talented interns join his group, many of whom have transitioned to full-time positions and made valuable contributions to the team. “We emphasize ownership and responsibility at all levels, including our interns, allowing them to significantly impact both projects and processes. Interns bring diverse perspectives, challenge fundamental assumptions, and make direct contributions to our products. One of our 2024 interns worked on several tickets for the DC100 Flight Software, including rearchitecting a base class with significant implications across the code base, collaborating with hardware engineers so that software represents the physical implementation of the vehicle, and addressing software bugs. In my personal experience managing interns, I pair an intern with a technical mentor that provides day to day contact while developing code while I provide broader experiences reflective of working at Sierra Space. These experiences include conducting mock interviews and recruiting software assessments with feedback to aid in an intern’s career development. For anyone considering an internship at Sierra Space, I strongly encourage you to apply. We promote a strong sense of ownership, responsibility, and career growth opportunities while fostering a supportive team atmosphere. Interns participate in various events, enjoy camaraderie, and have the unique opportunity to work on spaceplanes and satellites!” Internships: https://lnkd.in/eME9Yy3x

Interns bring fresh perspectives and innovative ideas, significantly contributing to both design and testing efforts. Brian Pomeroy, Principal Mechanical Engineer in Propulsion at Sierra Space, shares his valuable insights on the transformative impacts interns can have on our teams. “My personal experience with interns has taught me that the most significant impact I can have as a manager is to provide them with ample learning opportunities. Interns bring innovative solutions and fresh perspectives to the team, often having a good grasp of the latest technologies. Their insights can spark new ideas and perspectives within the team. Interns at Sierra Space get to work on a range of cool and challenging projects within the propulsion team. For example, they might engage in conceptual designs of new products, assess the cost of building and manufacturing new products, and determine competitive viability. Interns are often responsible for designing components, conducting basic analyses to ensure they meet requirements, and sometimes handling ground or test equipment. Interns also get involved in testing, from cold flows to assisting with hot fire testing, experiencing the full design and testing cycle. To anyone considering an internship at Sierra Space, I highly encourage you to apply. The company covers a wide array of areas in the space community, offering exposure beyond just one specific field. It's a risk-free experience to step out of your comfort zone and try something new. People here want you to learn, ask questions, and will always take the time to sit down with you.” View available internships: https://lnkd.in/eME9Yy3x

Congratulations to our CEO, Tom Vice, for being selected for a “Most Admired CEO” award by Denver Business Journal. The program seeks to honor 21 top-ranking executives in the Denver area whose visions are shaping their organizations, sectors, and the community at large. Link: https://bit.ly/4eUgcNf

We've been awarded a contract by Air Force Research Laboratory REGAL program, to study scaling our 150 kg payload Sierra Space Ghost decelerator to accommodate up to 5 or 10 metric tons. The goal: deliver a shipping container from space anywhere in the world in 90 minutes. Release: https://bit.ly/4dvNnFJ

At Sierra Space, we provide a supportive internship environment, making it an ideal choice for aspiring aerospace professionals. An internship here offers invaluable experience and acts as a stepping stone to an exciting career.   The experiences of Lily Allen, Thanush Rajendran, and Anton Vandenberge illustrate how an internship with our team can lead to significant career growth and opportunities.   Blog: https://lnkd.in/eWvp73J4

Our team has successfully completed the ISS Joint Test of our Passive Common Berthing Mechanism (PCBM). This test verified that the PCBM conforms to NASA's rigorous standards. It included leak tests and alignment checks, ensuring the safety and integrity of the berthing interface between Dream Chaser and the ISS.

The United States Space Force announced Sierra Space’s selection this week to produce design concepts for its Resilient Global Positioning System (R-GPS) program. This initiative aims to enhance the GPS by exploring cost-effective, small satellite designs that improve resilience against emerging threats. We look forward to potentially contributing to this critical mission and advancing capabilities for both military and civil applications, with potential launches by 2028. Link: https://lnkd.in/g4HXuiF3