Sierra Nevada (Dream Chaser) acquires Orbital Technologies (ORBITEC)

[DocM]

Note they mention ORBITEC's vortex engine technology. It uses uses concentric hot/cold vortex flows to keep the heat off the chamber walls, allowing it to be built of light alloys. This was first flight tested in 2012.

Bottom line: SNC now has both hybrid and liquid engine technologies. This opens a lot of possibilities

http://www.orbitec.com

http://www.sncorp.com/snc_ss_cap.php

Gizmag on 2012 vortex engine test

http://www.gizmag.com/orbitec-vortex-liquid-fuel-rocket-engine/24807/

Space News

http://www.spacenews.com/article/financial-report/40967sierra-nevada-corp-to-acquire-orbitec

Presser

Sierra Nevada Corporation to Acquire Orbital Technologies Corporation

Signs Agreement to Enhance both its Propulsion & Spacecraft Systems Product Lines

Sparks, Nev., June 19, 2014 Sierra Nevada Corporation (SNC), headquartered in Sparks, Nevada, announces that it has signed a definitive purchase agreement to acquire the Orbital Technologies Corporation (ORBITEC) as a wholly-owned subsidiary of SNC. ORBITEC is a leading subsystems integrator and high technology development company based in Madison, Wisconsin. ORBITECs strong liquid rocket propulsion, life science and support, and fire suppression technology portfolio will enhance both SNC Space Systems Propulsion and Spacecraft Systems product lines.

SNC has been working with ORBITEC for over three years. ORBITEC is the lead for the Environmental Control and Life Support Systems (ECLSS) and Thermal Control Systems (TCS) for SNC, providing reliable living conditions including temperature and humidity control to support the astronauts during their journeys on SNCs Dream Chaser? spacecraft. Recently, SNC selected ORBITEC to provide the RCS engines for Dream Chaser using green, nontoxic propellants. The flexibility of fuel and oxidizer options along with the ability to quickly scale engine size makes ORBITECs Vortex technology the growing industry preferred choice for Reaction Control Systems (RCS), Upper Stage engines and potentially boost class engines.

SNC has a relationship with ORBITEC that has proven to be extremely collaborative with our endeavors under the NASA Commercial Crew Transportation Capability Contract agreement and on the Dream Chaser program, said SNC President Eren Ozmen. Their teams commitment to the safety and quality of human life in space to reliably expand mankinds exploration of space is in perfect alignment with SNCs Space Systems mission and our quest to return human space travel to America.

The acquisition will integrate all of ORBITECs technologies into SNCs Space Systems, based in Louisville, Colorado. ORBITEC will continue expanding operations in Madison.

ORBITECs impressive performance as our partner on the Dream Chaser program for ECLSS demonstrates their strong capability to deliver human spaceflight qualified hardware, said Mark N. Sirangelo, corporate vice president of SNCs Space Systems. The addition of ORBITECs high performance Vortex liquid rocket engines to SNCs flight-proven hybrid rocket motor products allows SNC to provide a complete range of propulsion solutions for our customers.

ORBITECs technologies and products also include green propellants for next generation spacecraft, advanced plant systems that can ultimately integrate future life support systems, and other science packages and capabilities for spaceflight. The NASA-lead VEGGIE system launched in May to the International Space Station, demonstrating the growth of edible plants in space, is paving the path for future revolutionary closure of future life support systems that engage biological systems to help recycle water, regenerate breathable air, and augment the food supply for long duration space habitation in and far beyond low Earth orbit. The acquisition of ORBITEC enhances SNCs commitment to human spaceflight systems. Merging with SNC integrates compatible cultures for rapid and efficient deployment of space technologies and products, and enables ORBITEC to accelerate commercialization of its high performance and cost effective products to market, said Tom Crabb, president of Orbitec. Mr. Crabb will continue to lead the operations in Madison, Wisconsin.

ORBITEC is also revolutionizing terrestrial fire suppression systems, with their Ultra High Pressure Fire Suppression systems that can extinguish fire in one third the time with half the water of traditional fire suppression systems.

[flyingskippy]

All of these contractors joining SNC to work on Dream Chaser has to have an impact on the price. I love the idea and all, but will NASA and Congress like it when it comes time to crunch the numbers?

[DocM]

Price is part of the evaluation for CCtCap, but this has to do with a lot more than that. They're buying ORBITEC to become more vertical like SpaceX - building their own engines etc. I'd bet once DC is done they also do their own composite work instead of having others do it.

[DocM]

Done deal, and they're still emphasizing the liquid engine techs. It'd interesting to see a Vortex powered SS2 and Dream Chaser.

Sierra Nevada Corporation Successfully Completes the Acquisition of Orbital Technologies Corporation of Wisconsin

Sparks, Nev., July 10, 2014 Sierra Nevada Corporation (SNC) announces it completed the acquisition of Orbital Technologies Corporation (ORBITEC), headquartered in Madison, Wisconsin. The company will continue its operations in Madison, while supporting SNCs Space Systems in Louisville, Colorado.

The acquisition comes as the result of the previous successful working relationship between the two firms. The combined capabilities and products of SNCs Space Systems and ORBITEC provide SNCs customers with a comprehensive set of green space propulsion technology options with both hybrid solid/liquid and bipropellant liquid rocket motors. SNC Space Systems provides world class components and subsystems to space contractors, including gimbal mechanisms, power subsystems, solar array drives, release mechanisms, integrated solar panel assemblies and flight control actuators.

"We're pleased to formally welcome ORBITEC to the SNC family," said SNC President Eren Ozmen. "It was a natural progression for our two companies to come together after years of teaming on SNC's Dream Chaser? spacecraft program. Our complementary technologies, depth in space systems leadership and steadfast commitment to developing safe, human spaceflight, are consistent with both our business plans for significantly growing our aerospace and commercial markets.

As previously announced by SNC, the ORBITEC acquisition extends SNCs subsystems portfolio to include Environmental Control Life Support Subsystems (ECLSS) and advanced thermal management for human spaceflight vehicles and orbiting habitats. The excellent performance characteristics and value of ORBITECs ECLSS and Reaction Control Subsystem (RCS) technology made these the clear choice for SNCs Dream Chaser winged Commercial Crew Transport for the International Space Station. SNC is committed to continuing ORBITECs excellent relationships with its government and commercial customers.

ORBITECs decades of experience in strong liquid rocket propulsion systems, human spaceflight life support and thermal systems, automated life science systems, and fire suppression systems portfolio will provide substantial enhancements to SNCs Space Systems broad product line, said Mark N. Sirangelo, corporate vice president of SNC Space Systems.

ORBITEC started in Wisconsin as a 3-person company. Over the past 26 years ORBITEC has leveraged the great intellectual and resource capacity in Wisconsin. The company recently added over 30 high tech jobs to the state. ORBITEC will continue to expand its capabilities to deliver the next generation of products with improved viability and efficiency, meeting and ensuring customer satisfaction in challenging and cost-sensitive markets, said Tom Crabb, chief operations officer of ORBITEC. We know that the State of Wisconsin has a significant heritage in aerospace. ORBITEC is committed to expanding Wisconsins valuable high tech economy that could potentially include becoming a launch or landing state for the Dream Chaser, said Crabb. Crabb will continue to lead and manage ORBITEC, as an SNC subsidiary.

[Astra.Xtreme]

Orbitec makes some really cool stuff.  I was at their facility 4 years ago when I was in college and designing a robot for a NASA competition, and they had designed an array of mirrors that concentrated sunlight down to a single point which was used to heat lunar regolith, which they would then extract water from.  From that they would also craft oxygen.  It was a crazy complex system, but has a ton of potential for being used to support humans on the moon or mars.

 

I'm glad to see they gained some attention.

[DocM]

Me too, especially their ECLSS and the Vortex engine. Imagine being able to fab reusable aluminum engines on a 3D printer. Talk about reducing launch costs!