Sierra Nevada Corporation’s (SNC) Space Systems is pleased to announce it is expanding its relationship with the University of Colorado Boulder (CU-Boulder) through the signing of a letter of cooperation with CU-Boulder’s BioServe Space Technologies (BioServe). Through the cooperation, SNC and BioServe will jointly explore ways the Dream Chaser® Space Utility Vehicle (SUV) can serve as an orbital platform for scientific experiments in microgravity and space life science research.
SNC and CU-Boulder have a long-standing relationship collaborating on various projects throughout the development of the Dream Chaser commercial space transportation vehicle. Currently, CU-Boulder is a Dream Chaser program – Dream Team – member. CU-Boulder has provided SNC with leading research and development support over the past several years, including defining the overall cockpit design of the Dream Chaser spacecraft.
SNC actively recruits top graduates, alumni and interns from CU-Boulder. Presently, SNC’s Space Systems employs over 55 alumni and close to a dozen interns. Additionally, SNC also supports various senior design projects and works closely with students and research faculty. Several SNC executives hold faculty positions at the university.
“Our longstanding partnership with Sierra Nevada Corporation’s Space Systems is a terrific example of a successful university-industry collaboration,” said CU-Boulder Chancellor Philip P. DiStefano. “CU-Boulder’s BioServe Space Technologies has been flying hardware and experiments in space commercially for several decades, much of it with the help of our talented students, and we expect our new involvement with SNC’s Dream Chaser project to result in new discoveries, technologies and applications in the life sciences, including biomedicine.”
Recently, Colorado, through a defined set of objectives outlined by Gov. John Hickenlooper, has taken steps to grow the aerospace industry within the state. Today’s signing of this cooperative agreement between SNC and BioServe is a prime example of a positive public-private relationship directly supporting the goals of Gov. Hickenlooper.
The agreement will allow SNC and BioServe to collaborate on activities to advance commercial development of microgravity science by utilizing the Dream Chaser SUV as an orbital laboratory. BioServe will help optimize the hardware onboard the Dream Chaser to enable and enhance International Space Station (ISS) microgravity research, as well as assist SNC in evaluating the utilization of Dream Chaser as a free-flying microgravity science platform.
“SNC is committed to providing opportunities for collaboration with universities in our space efforts. We are excited about the opportunity this cooperation creates to leverage the hardware, knowledge and experience of both CU-Boulder and now BioServe,” said Mark N. Sirangelo, corporate vice president of SNC’s Space Systems. “CU-Boulder plans for expanding its aerospace and space efforts in the coming years will allow SNC to explore a wide range of educational, technological, scientific and business opportunities associated with the development of advanced Dream Chaser missions.”
BioServe’s research and hardware development center, located in CU-Boulder’s aerospace engineering sciences department, has conducted a wide variety of space life science research on the space shuttle, Mir space station and the International Space Station (ISS) since 1991. BioServe has developed and flown more than 70 payloads launched on NASA’s space shuttle, Russian Progress and Soyuz vehicles, the Orbital Sciences Cygnus, the JAXA HTV launch vehicles and, most recently, the SpaceX Dragon cargo capsule.
Dream Chaser is a multi-mission capable spacecraft; it provides the only reusable, human-rated lifting-body spacecraft with a commercial runway landing capability, anywhere in the world. The space system is on the forefront of the commercial human spaceflight industry, offering safe, reliable and cost-effective crew and critical cargo transportation to low-Earth orbit destinations, including the ISS.
Photo Cutline: Philip DiStefano, Mark Sirangelo and Louis Stodieck with the Dream Chaser® engineering mockup for human factors testing at CU-Boulder. Photo Credit: CU-Boulder
About BioServe Space Technologies
BioServe Space Technologies is a Center within CU-Boulder’s Department of Aerospace Engineering Sciences. For over 25 years, the Center has specialized in conducting microgravity life science research and designing and developing space flight hardware to support that research. BioServe has a full suite of space flight certified hardware available for use by its customers and partners. The center is a full-service, organization that not only provides space flight hardware, but can successfully guide novice and experienced researchers, organizations and commercial companies through the process of conducting life science research on board any launch or space flight vehicle as well as the International Space Station.
Media Contact: Jim.Scott@Colorado.edu or Jim Scott at 303-492-3114.
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 visitwww.sncspace.com and follow us at Facebook.com/SNCSpaceSystems.
Media Contact: SNCDreamChaser@sncorp.com or Krystal Scordo at 720-407-3192.
About Sierra Nevada Corporation
Sierra Nevada Corporation (SNC), headquartered in Sparks, Nevada, is one of America’s fastest growing private companies based on its significant expansion and reputation for rapid, innovative, and agile technology solutions in electronics, aerospace, avionics, space, propulsion, micro-satellite, aircraft, communications systems and solar energy. Under the leadership of CEO Fatih Ozmen and President Eren Ozmen, SNC has a workforce of over 3,000 personnel in 31 locations in 17 states. SNC’s six unique business areas are dedicated to providing leading-edge solutions to SNC’s dynamic customer base.
SNC is also the Top Woman-Owned Federal Contractor in the United States. Over the last 30 years under the Ozmen’s leadership, SNC has remained focused on providing its customers the very best in diversified technologies to meet their needs and has a strong and proven track record of success. The company continues to focus its growth also on the commercial sector through internal advancements in dual-use applications and outside acquisitions, including the emerging markets of renewable energy, telemedicine, nanotechnology, cyber and net-centric operations. For more information on SNC visit www.sncorp.com and follow us at Facebook/Sierra Nevada Corporation.
Media Contact: SNCDreamChaser@sncorp.com or Michelle Erlach at 775-849-6027.
