The Sierra Space Axelerator™ product line includes new rendezvous and proximity operations (RPO) technology with Spectre (left), and proprietary deployable decelerator technology with Ghost (right). (Photo courtesy Sierra Space)
Sierra Space’s new incubator, created to deliver leading-edge products with extraordinary efficiency, recently introduced a trio of pioneering technologies.
LOUISVILLE, Colo.—A new space technology incubator recently started by Sierra Space is designed to fast-track the development of innovative defense technologies and mission solutions, the company said in a release.
Sierra Space is a commercial space company and emerging defense technology prime contractor that is focused on “building an end-to-end business and technology platform in space to benefit life on earth.” The company describes the Sierra Space Axelerator™ as “an innovation-at-speed incubator” that is “set to redefine industry standards by delivering cutting-edge products with unprecedented efficiency.”
The first technology to emerge from Axelerator is Sierra Space Ghost, a state-of-the-art space delivery system engineered to safely return objects from space—and through space—directly to precise locations on Earth. Ghost, a low beta reentry vehicle that uses proprietary, deployable decelerator technology, is said to represent a significant leap forward in space logistics and recovery operations.
According to Sierra Space, Ghost promises to enhance the sustainability and safety of space. The system will reportedly be able to deliver payloads anywhere in the world in 90 minutes or less, enabling a highly responsive space-based system without the need for a fixed infrastructure. Ghost transitioned from development to flight testing in just 90 days, highlighting Axelerator’s rapid prototyping and development capabilities, the company said in the release.
Sierra Space is also introducing Spectre, a satellite designed for precision rendezvous and proximity operations (RPO). Sierra Space Spectre is “equipped to perform complex tasks in the challenging environment of space with unmatched accuracy and flexibility.” It is scheduled for launch in late 2025, the company said.
Another innovation from Sierra Space’s Axelerator incubator is Sierra Black OS, an advanced AI-enabled operating system that reportedly will be able to operate across space, air, and ground systems seamlessly. The inaugural release is the Sierra Toolkit for Autonomous Rendezvous (STAR), an RPO software module that is said to offer exceptional operational intelligence and autonomy for space missions. “Sierra Black OS and STAR are set to revolutionize how space operations are conducted,” the company said in the release.
“With Axelerator, Sierra Space is not just imagining the future. We are actively building it,” said Sierra Space CEO Tom Vice, in the release. “Our new products—Ghost, Spectre, and Sierra Black OS—are a testament to our commitment to pushing the boundaries of what’s possible and driving innovation at the speed of thought. We are proud to contribute to the defense sector with technologies that will shape the future for decades to come.”
The Axelerator incubator is part of Sierra Space’s Orbital Missions and Services group, founded in 2023 to focus on “revolutionary new national security solutions,” according to the release. Since standing up the organization, Sierra Space is reported to have been awarded $1.3 billion in prime satellite constellations contracts. In January 2024, the company was awarded a $740 million prime contract by the Space Development Agency for 18 Tranche 2 satellites to accelerate the capabilities to provide global, persistent indications, detection, warning, and tracking of conventional and advanced missile threats, including hypersonic missile systems.