Sierra Nevada Corporation to Acquire Orbital Technologies Corporation

[Chris Bergin]

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. ORBITEC’s 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 SNC’s 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 ORBITEC’s 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 team’s commitment to the safety and quality of human life in space to reliably expand mankind’s exploration of space is in perfect alignment with SNC’s Space Systems mission and our quest to return human space travel to America.”

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

“ORBITEC’s 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 SNC’s Space Systems.  “The addition of ORBITEC’s high performance Vortex liquid rocket engines to SNC’s flight-proven hybrid rocket motor products allows SNC to provide a complete range of propulsion solutions for our customers.”

ORBITEC’s 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 SNC’s 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.

About Orbital Technologies Corporation (ORBITEC)
ORBITEC is a leading high technology development and subsystem integration company based in Madison, Wisconsin. ORBITEC offers commercially mature solutions and strong capabilities in five distinct areas: Next Generation Fire Suppression; Propulsion, Propellant, and Power Systems; Life Support and Environment Control; Bio-based products and production systems; and Interactive 3D Simulation Software. ORBITEC has won more than $150 million in contracts to develop state-of-the-art technologies and products from government (NASA, USAF, US Army, US Navy, USDA, FAA/DOT), large and small commercial aerospace, and other commercial industries The company has been able to convert research and development initiatives into leading technologies and mature the technologies to valuable products in their respective markets that provide significant cost advantages, superior functionality, and high reliability. ORBITEC is led by an experienced management team with over one hundred years of industry experience. For more information on ORBITEC, visit www.orbitec.com.

About Sierra Nevada Corporation’s Space Systems
Sierra Nevada Corporation’s Space Systems business area based in Louisville, Colorado, designs and manufactures advanced spacecraft, space vehicles, rocket motors and spacecraft subsystems and components for the U.S. Government, commercial customers as well as for the international market.  SNC’s Space Systems has more than 25 years of space heritage and has participated in over 400 successful space missions through the delivery of over 4,000 systems, subsystems and components.  During its history, SNC’s Space Systems has concluded over 70 programs for NASA and over 50 other clients. For more information about SNC’s Space Systems visit www.sncspace.com and follow us at Facebook.com/SNCSpaceSystems.

About Sierra Nevada Corporation
Sierra Nevada Corporation (SNC), headquartered in Sparks, Nevada, is one of America’s fastest growing private companies based on its significant expansion and reputation for rapid, innovative, and agile technology solutions in electronics, aerospace, avionics, space, propulsion, micro-satellite, aircraft, communications systems and solar energy. Under the leadership of CEO Fatih Ozmen and President Eren Ozmen, SNC has a workforce of over 3,000 personnel in 30 locations in 16 states. SNC’s six unique business areas are dedicated to providing leading-edge solutions to SNC’s dynamic customer base.

SNC is also the Top Woman-Owned Federal Contractor in the United States. Over the last 30 years under the Ozmen’s leadership, SNC has remained focused on providing its customers the very best in diversified technologies to meet their needs and has a strong and proven track record of success. The company continues to focus its growth also on the commercial sector through internal advancements in dual-use applications and outside acquisitions, including the emerging markets of renewable energy, telemedicine, nanotechnology, cyber and net-centric operations. For more information on SNC visit www.sncorp.com and follow us at Facebook/Sierra Nevada Corporation.

[docmordrid]

Interesting they make note of the.ORBITEC vortex engine tech. They now have both hybrid and liquid techs.

[Ludus]

ATK (minus ammo biz) merges with Orbital. Orbital is bought by Sierra Nevada. Interesting.

I tried googling the Ozmens but other than a few basic facts and pictures not much. He was an early employee of the company. Fast forward somehow they (apparently She for Federal contract purposes)now effectively own this multi billion dollar enterprise that now includes Orbital and ATK, communications satellites, Dream Chaser, ISS resupply, air launch. Anyone have more bio information?

[sublimemarsupial]

ATK (minus ammo biz) merges with Orbital. Orbital is bought by Sierra Nevada. Interesting.

I tried googling the Ozmens but other than a few basic facts and pictures not much. He was an early employee of the company. Fast forward somehow they (apparently She for Federal contract purposes)now effectively own this multi billion dollar enterprise that now includes Orbital and ATK, communications satellites, Dream Chaser, ISS resupply, air launch. Anyone have more bio information?

No, Orbital and ORBTEC are not the same company. SNC bought ORBTEC, not Orbital.

[Lar]

A takeover of Orbital ATK would be quite a coup but I think well beyond SNC's throw weight financially.

[robertross]

Interesting news. Why buy products when you can acquire the whole company? 

[adrianwyard]

FYI parallel discussion in the Dream Chaser Discussion Thread: http://forum.nasaspaceflight.com/index.php?topic=29417.msg1216059#msg1216059

... the only supplier I've seen mentioned for RCS to date has been Aerojet, but evidently that's now changed. There are still plenty of unknowns here.

ORBITEC have tested larger versions of their engine tech (30K lbf). That's not sufficient to replace the hybrids (which we guess are about 50K lbf) but it does match the hybrid RocketMotorOne used on SpaceShipOne.

I expect this acquisition will be received well by those who are twitchy about SNC's reliance on hybrids.

More here: http://www.parabolicarc.com/2012/09/27/orbitec-tests-new-vision-rocket-engine/
http://www.orbitec.com/documents/ORBITEC_Rocket_Launch_Test_Mojave.pdf

Flight video: http://www.parabolicarc.com/2012/10/26/orbitecs-rocket-engine-soars-above-the-mojave-desert/

[Ludus]

No, Orbital and ORBTEC are not the same company. SNC bought ORBTEC, not Orbital.

Oops, thanks. That's a lot less exotic. ORB has a market cap of 1.82 B  ORBTEC seems way below an order of magnitude less.

[oldAtlas_Eguy]

SNC seems to be taking a page out of SpaceX's book on lowering costs: company vertical integration (less subcontractors).

[yg1968]

It would have been interesting to have a press conference on this acquisition. SNC Space Systems has been making press conferences for events that don't really deserve one but this acquisition is an event that actually deserves one.

[Joffan]

SNC seems to be taking a page out of SpaceX's book on lowering costs: company vertical integration (less subcontractors).

A book on the same shelf perhaps, but acquisition is not really the same as the path that SpaceX took.