What is the Sierra Space LIFE® habitat?

LIFE® is Sierra Space's expandable habitat platform, designed to launch compactly and provide a large pressurized environment after deployment. It is in development and testing.

What can LIFE be used for?

LIFE is being developed for applications such as habitation, research, in-space manufacturing, payload operations, logistics, and other mission-specific uses.

Has LIFE been tested?

Sierra Space reports UBP and creep tests on five sub-scale units since 2022, a full-scale 285 cubic meter ground UBP test at 77 PSI in December 2023, and later shield impact testing. The habitat remains in ground development.

Is LIFE the same as Orbital Reef?

LIFE is a Sierra Space habitat platform. Orbital Reef has been a separate commercial space-station program involving multiple partners.

In-space infrastructure · In development

LIFE® Expandable Habitat

A large-scale, expandable habitat architecture for sustained human activity, research, manufacturing, and mission operations beyond Earth.

Explore LIFE Discuss a Mission

Intact LIFE expandable habitat exterior concept

Development program

More Usable Volume From a Compact Launch Configuration

In development

LIFE® is Sierra Space's expandable habitat platform. It is designed to launch on a conventional rocket in a compact configuration and inflate on orbit into a pressurized environment for crewed and uncrewed activities. The platform is in development and ground testing; it is not operating in orbit.

Mission applications

Built for Sustained Operations

The LIFE development concept includes intended uses in semiconductor manufacturing and pharmaceutical microgravity research alongside habitation, science and other mission-specific activities.

Corridor inside a ground LIFE mock-up during a tour — A ground mock-up interior photographed during a LIFE tour.

Structure

Expandable Pressure-Shell Architecture

The LIFE habitat’s inflatable pressure shell uses a Vectran™ fabric weave. Its flexible structural system is engineered for pressure retention. Shield layers are evaluated against hypervelocity impacts as part of that development work.

Layered habitat shield test article after a hypervelocity impact test shot — Habitat shield layers after impact testing, reported April 2025

Ground testing

Tested at Full Scale

Since 2022, Sierra Space has tested five sub-scale inflatable units in Ultimate Burst Pressure (UBP) and creep tests, reporting that those ground tests surpassed NASA’s certification recommendations. A full-scale 285 cubic meter UBP test in December 2023 reached 77 PSI. Sierra Space also reported hypervelocity impact testing of habitat shield layers in April 2025.

Ground testing continues as configurations and results evolve with the program.

Full-scale LIFE test article at the moment of burst during ground testing — Full-scale burst test, December 2023

Configuration

A Platform for Mission-Specific Interiors

The LIFE concept includes space for science experiments, exercise equipment, a medical center and an Astro Garden® system for growing produce. These are possible mission-specific interior accommodations.

Discuss a LIFE Configuration

Illuminated grow racks inside a ground LIFE mock-up during a tour — Illuminated grow racks inside a ground mock-up during a LIFE tour.

Enabling systems

Systems for Living and Working in Space

Sierra Space environmental control, life support, thermal, payload, and mission-integration capabilities support the broader system needed to operate a habitat.

Explore Environmental Systems Explore Orbital Reef

Questions

LIFE FAQs

What is the Sierra Space LIFE® habitat?: LIFE® is Sierra Space's expandable habitat platform, designed to launch compactly and provide a large pressurized environment after deployment. It is in development and testing.
What can LIFE be used for?: LIFE is being developed for applications such as habitation, research, in-space manufacturing, payload operations, logistics, and other mission-specific uses.
Has LIFE been tested?: Sierra Space reports UBP and creep tests on five sub-scale units since 2022, a full-scale 285 cubic meter ground UBP test at 77 PSI in December 2023, and later shield impact testing. The habitat remains in ground development.
Is LIFE the same as Orbital Reef?: LIFE is a Sierra Space habitat platform. Orbital Reef has been a separate commercial space-station program involving multiple partners.