Sierra Nevada Corporation headquarters. Photo: Sierra Nevada Corporation

Sierra Nevada Corporation (SNC) revealed two two new satellite platforms: the SN-200M satellite bus designed for Medium-Earth Orbit (MEO) and the SN-1000. These satellite platforms offer increased payload capacity for MEO and other orbits.

The SN-200M variant specifically adapts SNC’s SN-200 bus for MEO. Additionally, the SN-1000 is a demonstration platform based on the SN-200M bus flying an Evolved Expendable Launch Vehicle (EELV) Secondary Payload Adapter (ESPA). Both satellites build on the Air Force Demonstration and Science Experiment (DSX) program. Last June, the U.S. Air Force Research Laboratory (AFRL) launched DSX into MEO, and it has been operating on-orbit for the past year.

“We are proud to be able to say SNC is in a small, select group of satellite suppliers who’ve delivered a proven MEO spacecraft,” said SNC CEO Fatih Ozmen, referring to the on-orbit success of DSX. “Our unique SN-1000 approach supports increased payload demonstrations or operational missions in any orbit.”