SpaceMiningData
CompanyUnited StatesActive

Sierra Space

U.S. space company that built the carbothermal oxygen production reactor used in NASA's Carbothermal Reduction Demonstration (CaRD) ground tests on lunar regolith simulant.

Claimed

Resources and evidence

Each resource shows the highest step primary sources support. How the ladder works.

ResourceEvidenceMeaning
OxygenClaimedsays it will

Demonstrated

Ground tests only, on simulant: Sierra Space states its Carbothermal Oxygen Production Reactor completed thermal vacuum testing at NASA Johnson Space Center (announced 2024-09-17); NASA reported in February 2026 that the integrated CaRD prototype, including the Sierra Space reactor, extracted oxygen from simulated lunar soil using concentrated sunlight.

Claimed or planned

Sierra Space states the hardware reached TRL-6 and is mature enough to be incorporated into a lunar flight mission as a technology demonstrator; no flight is manifested in the sources found.

Facts

Headquarters
United States
Type
Company
Status
Activeas of 2026-02-13. NASA's 2026-02-13 CaRD article names Sierra Space as the reactor developer; this record does not cover Sierra Space's broader corporate status beyond that.
Roles
Processing / ISRU
Targets
Moon
Also known as
Sierra Space Corporation
Website
www.sierraspace.com

Open evidence gaps

  • Founding year and corporate history (spin-out from Sierra Nevada Corporation) not confirmed from a primary source.
  • Whether any lunar flight demonstration of the reactor is funded or manifested.

Sources

5 sources
  1. [1]Sunlight Extracts Oxygen From Regolith Using Solar Chemistry
    NASA Johnson Space CenterGovernment recordPublished 2026-02-13Accessed 2026-09-25Supports: status, status as of, role, resource activity
    The integrated prototype brought together a carbothermal oxygen production reactor developed by Sierra Space, a solar concentrator designed by NASA's Glenn Research Center in Cleveland
    Quote matched the source text when accessed.
  2. [2]Sunlight Extracts Oxygen From Regolith Using Solar Chemistry
    NASA Johnson Space CenterGovernment recordPublished 2026-02-13Accessed 2026-09-25Supports: resources, resource activity
    The CaRD team performed integrated prototype testing that used concentrated solar energy to extract oxygen from simulated lunar soil, while confirming the production of carbon monoxide through a solar-driven chemical reaction.
    Quote matched the source text when accessed.
  3. [3]Sierra Space Unveils Breakthrough Technology Designed to Extract Oxygen from Lunar Soil, Enabling Sustainable Human Presence on the Moon
    Sierra SpaceCompany statementPublished 2024-09-17Accessed 2026-09-25Supports: resource activity
    the company's proprietary Carbothermal Oxygen Production Reactor has successfully completed thermal vacuum testing at NASA's Johnson Space Center
    Quote matched the source text when accessed.
  4. [4]Sierra Space Unveils Breakthrough Technology Designed to Extract Oxygen from Lunar Soil, Enabling Sustainable Human Presence on the Moon
    Sierra SpaceCompany statementPublished 2024-09-17Accessed 2026-09-25Supports: resource activity
    These efforts confirmed that the hardware has advanced to Technology Readiness Level Six, or TRL-6, meaning it has the maturation to be incorporated into a flight mission to the moon as a technology demonstrator.
    Quote matched the source text when accessed.
  5. [5]Sierra Space Unveils Breakthrough Technology Designed to Extract Oxygen from Lunar Soil, Enabling Sustainable Human Presence on the Moon
    Sierra SpaceCompany statementPublished 2024-09-17Accessed 2026-09-25Supports: headquarters country
    LOUISVILLE, Colo. - September 17, 2024 - Sierra Space
    Quote matched the source text when accessed.