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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.

 

Zhuhai Air Show Highlights COMAC Orders, New Spaceplane, and Chinese Aerospace Advances

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China’s growing aerospace industry took center stage at the Zhuhai Air Show, where Commercial Aircraft Corporation of China (COMAC) showcased new partnerships and aircraft. Air China emerged as the launch customer for COMAC’s C929, China’s first domestically developed widebody jet. Additionally, COMAC revealed improvements to its ARJ21 regional jet, rebranding it as the C909 for greater brand consistency. Painted white with a blue tail, the C909 boasts enhanced efficiency with reduced weight, noise, and fuel costs, according to COMAC’s air show representatives.

Hainan Airlines confirmed orders for 60 C919 narrowbody jets and 40 C909s, while Colorful Guizhou Airlines signed agreements for 30 C909 aircraft, including 20 firm orders and 10 provisional ones. Although Air China’s exact order volume for the C929 has yet to be disclosed, this endorsement signals the expansion of China’s domestic aerospace ambitions.

The air show also saw state-owned AVIC display a model of China’s first commercial uncrewed spaceplane, designed to carry cargo to the Chinese space station. AVIC received a contract from the China Manned Space Agency for engineering and flight validation of this spaceplane, which is aimed at delivering low-cost, reusable cargo solutions for space.

Overhead, China’s Bayi aerobatic team performed, featuring J-20 stealth jets and debuting the new J-35A stealth fighter to the public. On the ground, a Z-20 helicopter, modified for anti-submarine operations, showcased the People’s Liberation Army Navy’s capabilities in extended-range maritime security.

Airbus, present at the show, voiced its commitment to competing in the Chinese market. CEO George Xu said Airbus remains focused on collaboration with Chinese partners despite emerging EU-China trade tensions, noting that Chinese certification of Airbus’s A330neo is progressing and could result in a 2025 delivery.

The Zhuhai Air Show will continue through November 17, highlighting China’s strides in aerospace innovation and the growing impact of its commercial and defense aviation sectors.