Sierra Nevada Corporation Completes Preliminary Design Review of the STPSat-5 Satellite
SPARKS, Nev., August 10, 2015 – Sierra Nevada Corporation’s (SNC) Space Systems has successfully completed the Preliminary Design Review (PDR) of the STPSat-5 satellite for the Department of Defense’s (DOD) Space Test Program (STP) Office. SNC is the prime contractor on the STPSat-5 program, leading the design and integration of this next-generation science and technology demonstration satellite for the DOD.
The PDR is a comprehensive evaluation of the entire satellite and all systems; a critical milestone that must be achieved in order to proceed with the integration and test of the STPSat-5 satellite. By successfully completing PDR, SNC now moves into the Critical Design phase of the program, in which technical designs are finalized in advance of manufacturing and integration of the satellite and its payloads.
“This successful PDR validates that our STPSat-5 design meets or exceeds all mission requirements as defined by our customer,” said John Roth, vice president of business development for SNC’s Space Systems. “We appreciate the collaborative environment fostered by STP to achieve a highly-capable microsatellite that enables flight verification of key DOD technologies.”
In addition to STP customer representatives, the PDR was attended by the Operationally Responsive Space Office, Aerospace Corporation, payload representatives and NASA's Ames Research Center.
"The Air Force and our other mission partners are pleased to move this program into the next phase,” said Colonel Jason Cothern, Air Force Space and Missile Systems Center Advanced Development and Test Directorate. “We remain on-track for providing this spaceflight opportunity for five highly-ranked Space Experiments Review Board (SERB) payloads."
STPSat-5 is the first satellite to be designed using SNC’s SN-50 modular microsatellite. The satellite can fly in a range of low-Earth orbits and in multiple launch configurations, providing a low-cost and highly-flexible solution for science, technology and commercial missions that can be satisfied with a small satellite. Payloads are accommodated through the innovative use of a configurable interface electronics suite, and further mission flexibility is offered by a low-toxicity ‘green’ propulsion module for orbit maintenance and de-orbit requirements. The spacecraft is compatible with a variety of secondary payload launch options in addition to dedicated launch configurations and, in many cases, an ideal choice for DOD and NASA space science missions. SNC’s SN-50 is a new, highly-capable complement to our existing SN-100 and SN-200 class of small satellites.
STPSat-5, which is administered by NASA’s Ames Research Center, is the latest free-flyer spacecraft for the U.S. Air Force STP office, hosting five Government furnished payloads provided by SPAWAR, the U.S. Air Force Academy, the Naval Research Laboratory and Office of Naval Research, and the Air Force Research Laboratory. The science and technology payloads will be integrated into the satellite at SNC’s Space Systems in Louisville, Colorado, home to SNC’s small satellite production facility and Satellite Operations Center.
About Sierra Nevada Corporation’s Space Systems
Sierra Nevada Corporation’s Space Systems business area based in Louisville, Colorado, designs and manufactures advanced spacecraft, space vehicles, rocket motors and spacecraft subsystems and components for the U.S. Government, commercial customers, as well as for the international market. SNC’s Space Systems has more than 25 years of space heritage and has participated in over 400 successful space missions through the delivery of over 4,000 systems, subsystems and components. During its history, SNC’s Space Systems has concluded over 70 programs for NASA and over 50 other clients. For more information about SNC’s Space Systems visit www.sncspace.com.
About Sierra Nevada Corporation
Sierra Nevada Corporation (SNC), headquartered in Sparks, Nevada, is among the “World’s Top 10 Most Innovative Companies in Space.” Over the last 30 years, under the leadership of President Eren Ozmen and CEO Fatih Ozmen, SNC has become one of America’s fastest-growing private companies and the Top Woman-Owned Federal Contractor in the United States. With a workforce of over 3,000 personnel, SNC now has 33 locations in 18 states and business divisions in England, Germany and Turkey. SNC has a reputation for rapid, innovative, and agile technology solutions in electronics, aerospace, avionics, space, propulsion, micro-satellite, aircraft and communications systems.
SNC has six unique business areas that are dedicated to providing leading-edge solutions to its dynamic customer base. SNC has a proven track record of success spanning more than five decades. It is focused on providing its customers with the very best in diversified technologies and continues to focus its growth on the commercial sector through internal advancements in dual-use applications and outside acquisitions including the emerging markets of telemedicine, Cyber, net-centric operations and commercial airlines.
For more information on SNC visit www.sncorp.com.
Media Contact: CommunicationsFromSNC@sncorp.com or Betsy McDonald at 775-849-6435.
