Industry Evaluators Gauge Technical Feasibility, Safety, and Mission Readiness for Commercial Space Program

Sierra Space and Blue Origin have finished their Systems Requirements Review, opening the way forward for the upcoming Orbital Reef project. 

The team involved in the station's development includes a range of aerospace industry names, all brought together under NASA's Commercial Low-Earth Orbit Development program. Partners working on the Orbital Reef team include Boeing, Redwire Space, Genesis Engineering Solutions, Amazon Distribution & Fulfillment Solutions, Amazon Web Services and Arizona State University, each a valuable addition to the team with their own niche of expertise. The goal is a space industry first: A commercially viable, orbital space station. The two companies joined hands for a technical evaluation of the Orbital Reef while in this early phase of development, hoping to eliminate a number of problems before they become set in stone. The review allowed the duo to evaluate the current specifications of the Reef and ensure it will manage a delicate balance that satisfies both market requirements and technical feasibility before the program advances with costly errors embedded in its foundations. 

“At Sierra Space we are building a platform in Space to benefit life on Earth, and forming a catalyst for disruptive technological breakthroughs and innovations that will shape the world of tomorrow,” said Tom Vice, CEO of Sierra Space. “It is clear that having achieved this key program milestone - and the maturity of the system we are building with Blue Origin - that we are a step closer to realizing that vision.”

“This Systems Requirements Review is a significant milestone toward commercializing low-Earth orbit,” said Brent Sherwood, senior vice president of advanced development programs for Blue Origin. “What’s especially exciting is how the Orbital Reef team is combining NASA’s goals with the needs of others to promote new commercial markets.”

FMI: www.orbitalreef.com