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Sierra Space CEO Tom Vice Retires as Company Pushes Toward Spaceplane Launch

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Sierra Space, the space spin-off of Sierra Nevada Corp, announced on Monday that CEO Tom Vice has retired, with billionaire Chairman Fatih Ozmen stepping in as interim CEO. This leadership change comes as the company nears the anticipated launch of its long-delayed Dream Chaser spaceplane.

Sierra Space, valued at $5.3 billion and spun off in 2021, has been working for nearly a decade to develop Dream Chaser, a spaceplane intended to transport cargo to and from low-Earth orbit. The spaceplane is expected to compete with SpaceX’s Dragon capsules. Under Vice’s leadership, Sierra Space also established a partnership with Jeff Bezos’ Blue Origin to build an inflatable space station, which would be offered to NASA as a potential commercial replacement for the International Space Station. Additionally, Sierra Space secured a $740 million contract from the Pentagon last year to build satellite platforms.

However, the company has faced challenges in launching Dream Chaser. Initially set to launch in 2024 aboard United Launch Alliance’s Vulcan rocket, the spaceplane was removed from the mission due to development delays.

Sierra Space thanked Tom Vice for his leadership during his tenure and wished him well in his retirement. The company’s backers include AE Industrial Partners, BlackRock, and Japanese investors like MUFG Bank and Kanematsu, following a $290 million funding round in 2023.

 

Blue Origin’s New Glenn Rocket Scheduled for Maiden Launch in January

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Blue Origin is preparing for the first-ever launch of its heavy-lift New Glenn rocket, marking a major milestone for the company in the competitive space exploration sector. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has confirmed that the launch window will open on Monday, January 6, from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Florida. The rocket’s lift-off is expected to occur between 1 a.m. and 4:45 a.m. EST, with additional opportunities available every day through January 12. This launch represents the beginning of Blue Origin’s ambition to establish a strong foothold in the space industry, directly competing with established players like SpaceX.

The inaugural mission will not carry a commercial payload. Instead, it will feature the Blue Ring Pathfinder, a simulator designed to test the New Glenn rocket’s payload systems. This mission is focused on verifying key technologies and capabilities, such as the rocket’s ability to deliver payloads to orbit, as well as the innovative technology that allows the rocket’s first stage to land on a sea platform after launch. Reusable technology is one of Blue Origin’s core goals, with the New Glenn rocket booster designed for up to 25 flights, a feature that positions it as a direct competitor to SpaceX’s Falcon and Starship rockets, which also focus on reusability.

One of the standout features of the New Glenn rocket is its 23-foot payload fairing, which is larger than that of many of its competitors. This capability allows the rocket to accommodate a wider range of payloads, giving it flexibility in handling various mission profiles. The first test flight will serve as a critical opportunity to evaluate crucial systems such as communications, tracking, and telemetry, all of which are vital for the success of future missions. These assessments are important steps toward refining the rocket’s design and preparing for commercial launches.

The New Glenn rocket’s development is part of Blue Origin’s long-term strategy to revolutionize spaceflight and make space more accessible. By focusing on reusability and flexibility, the company aims to bring down the costs of space missions and expand its commercial and scientific payload delivery capabilities. As the rocket enters its first phase of testing, Blue Origin is setting the stage for more ambitious projects, with the goal of further establishing itself as a leading player in the space industry.

Blue Origin’s New Glenn Rocket to Challenge SpaceX with Inaugural Launch

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Jeff Bezos’ space company, Blue Origin, is preparing for the debut launch of its New Glenn rocket on Sunday, marking a significant step toward competing with SpaceX’s dominance in spaceflight. The New Glenn, a towering 30-story rocket, represents Blue Origin’s decade-long, multibillion-dollar investment into the burgeoning satellite constellation market, aiming to challenge SpaceX’s Falcon 9, which has been the backbone of many satellite missions.

New Glenn’s success would set the stage for Amazon’s Kuiper broadband internet satellite constellation, positioning it as a competitor to SpaceX’s Starlink network. For Blue Origin, this is a pivotal moment, as the company has yet to send anything into orbit since its founding 25 years ago. Although it has successfully launched and landed the smaller New Shepard rocket, this launch marks its first attempt at Earth orbit.

Scheduled for 1 a.m. ET (0600 GMT) from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station, New Glenn will carry its first payload—a Blue Ring satellite designed for satellite servicing and national security. The rocket is more powerful than the Falcon 9, with a larger payload capacity, although it still lags behind SpaceX’s Starship, which is under development for larger and more ambitious missions.

Blue Origin has secured several satellite contracts, including with Eutelsat’s OneWeb, Telesat, and AST SpaceMobile, positioning New Glenn in a strong market for satellite constellations. The rocket’s reusable core stage will also make its first landing attempt on a drone ship, mimicking SpaceX’s reusability success.

Despite delays and leadership changes over the years, Blue Origin is now fully focused on New Glenn’s success, with CEO Dave Limp pushing for a fast-paced launch schedule. The launch is critical not only for competition but also as a certification flight for the U.S. Space Force, which could lead to lucrative national security payload contracts in the coming year.