Sierra Space, a spinoff of the Sierra Nevada Corporation, is making waves in the space tech industry with its ambitious plans to develop a pair of groundbreaking spacecraft: “Spectre” and “Ghost.” Building on its recent success with lucrative military contracts, the company aims to revolutionize in-orbit services and transport capabilities.
‘Spectre’: A Multi-Purpose In-Orbit Servicing Vehicle
Designed as a multi-purpose in-orbit servicing vehicle, “Spectre” is poised to offer a range of civilian and military applications. Its primary objective is to provide refueling and maintenance services for military satellites, addressing the Space Force’s expected demand for “space access, mobility, and logistics” (SAML) services.
Sierra Space’s Vice President of Orbital Systems and Services, Erik Daehler, announced plans to demonstrate the “Spectre” vehicle in orbit by 2025 or 2026. The company has offered the spacecraft as a product for the U.S. government to own and operate or as a service for government customers to purchase.
‘Ghost’: Rapid Cargo Delivery from Space to Earth
In addition to “Spectre,” Sierra Space is developing “Ghost,” a “state-of-the-art space delivery system engineered to safely return objects from space.” According to the company’s website, “Ghost will 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.”
Sierra Space is collaborating with the U.S. Transportation Command to explore how “Ghost” can facilitate the quick delivery of supplies and equipment to support military operations or humanitarian relief efforts worldwide.
Leveraging Military Contracts and Specialized Facilities
Sierra Space’s foray into in-orbit services and transport spacecraft builds upon its recent success with defense-related contracts. These include a $740 million project to deliver 18 missile-tracking satellites for the Space Force and a total of $1.3 billion in military contracts.
To support the development of space vehicles for the defense market, Sierra Space has established a specialized test lab in Florida to design, build, and test new technologies, with its headquarters based in Louisville, Colorado.
As Sierra Space continues to push the boundaries of space technology, its “Spectre” and “Ghost” spacecraft are poised to revolutionize in-orbit services and cargo delivery, cementing the company’s position as a key player in the rapidly evolving space industry.
