- Sierra Space, in collaboration with ILC Dover and NASA experts, successfully conducted an Ultimate Burst Pressure (UBP) test on a sub-scale version of their LIFE habitat.
- The test propels Sierra Space into full-scale testing of LIFE by year-end, aiming to commercialize Low Earth Orbit (LEO) with cost-effective in-space infrastructure.
September 21, 2023, LOUISVILLE, Colo., Sierra Space, a leading commercial space company, announced the completion of its fifth sub-scale test of their Large Integrated Flexible Environment (LIFE) habitat. Conducted in collaboration with ILC Dover and NASA subject-matter experts, the test included a metallic window sub-structure, known as a blanking plate, for the first time.
Sierra Space CEO Tom Vice stated, “Sierra Space is putting affordable in-space infrastructure within reach so every boardroom can now look to space for their next breakthrough products. Our revolutionary space station technology, combined with our highly reusable Dream Chaser spaceplane, significantly decreases the cost of in-space infrastructure and is ushering in the commercialization of Low Earth Orbit.”
The recent UBP test surpassed all previous maximum burst pressures, providing a 33% margin over the certification standard for full-scale LIFE testing. This achievement aligns with Sierra Space’s previous sub-scale UBP tests and marks a nearly 20% improvement over the previous design.
Shawn Buckley, Sr. Director Engineering and Product Evolution Director for Sierra Space Destinations, mentioned, “Inclusion of the blanking plate hard structure was a game-changer. This is a phenomenal achievement and provides the necessary engineering foundation that allows us to move into the next phase of the LIFE product line development – full-scale testing of LIFE.”
The LIFE habitat is designed to house a minimum of two windows, aiding crew members in dealing with the confined space and allowing them to witness Earth’s beauty. The recent test was supported by NASA via a Reimbursable Space Act Agreement, and it took place in Huntsville, Ala., on Redstone Arsenal in the flame trench of the historic Saturn 1/1B test stand.
Robert Reed, President, Space and Engineered Solutions at ILC Dover, added, “As pioneers in softgoods solutions, such as inflatable habitats, we are dedicated to advancing the next era of human spaceflight and sustaining life in low-Earth orbit. We are proud to have contributed to this crucial endeavor and further showcase the reliability our inflatable habitat.”
