Satellite & Spacecraft Missions
Spacecraft & Orbital Missions
Sierra Space brings spacecraft, payload integration, and enabling systems together around the requirements of the mission.
Satellite structures in production, shown before integration.
Requirements first
Define the Mission
Start with the mission requirement so platform, interface, and integration decisions can be considered together.
- Mission objective
- What the mission must accomplish, and the operational outcome the spacecraft supports
- Payload and interfaces
- The instrument or mission equipment, its accommodation needs, and the interfaces it depends on
- Operating environment
- Orbit, thermal conditions, radiation, and the duration the spacecraft must operate within them
- Power and pointing
- Power demand across mission modes, and the pointing accuracy and stability the payload requires
- Schedule and verification
- Program milestones and the verification approach that has to be planned alongside the design
Accommodation
Integrate the Payload and Spacecraft
Sierra Space is developing satellite solutions for customer payload integration. Payload accommodation connects the instrument or mission equipment to the spacecraft that supports it. Mechanical interfaces, electrical needs, communications, and operating constraints inform the integration approach.
Configuration
Configure the Supporting Systems
Sierra Space’s subsystem capabilities support mission configuration, while Sierra Space Eclipse™ provides a family of spacecraft platforms for different mission needs.
Build and verify
Carry Requirements Through Production and Test
Sierra Space aims to deliver orbital services to commercial, DoD and national security organizations, expanding production capacity to meet the needs of constellation programs. The company is developing small, high-performance satellites for on-orbit servicing missions. Spacecraft design decisions carry into manufacturing, assembly, integration, and verification.
Questions
Spacecraft & Orbital Missions FAQs
- What information should I bring to a spacecraft discussion?
- Describe the mission objective, payload, intended operating environment, interfaces, and target schedule. Include known power, pointing, communications, and accommodation needs so the discussion can focus on the requirements that shape the architecture.
- How does Sierra Space Eclipse™ fit into a spacecraft mission?
- Sierra Space Eclipse™ is the family of configurable satellite platforms. Platform selection follows the mission and payload requirements. Explore the Eclipse page for the roles of Horizon, Velocity, and Titan.