LOUISVILLE, Colo. - Sierra Space, a commercial space and defense tech company, has announced it has been awarded a contract by Mitsubishi Heavy Industries to deliver components for spacecraft docking on the International Space Station (ISS). This includes a Passive Common Berthing Mechanism (PCBM), connection hatch, lighting system, and pressure sensor technology to enable spacecraft to dock at the ISS. The components will ultimately be used by the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) for space station missions to the ISS.
Dr. Tom Marshburn, Chief Astronaut and VP of Human Factors Engineering at Sierra Space, said, βBy working with Mitsubishi Heavy Industries to support JAXAβs future missions to the ISS, weβre underscoring our commitment to scientific advancement and the growth of the low-Earth orbit economy. This contract reinforces Sierra Spaceβs reputation for delivering mission-critical, flight-proven systems that our partners can rely on. Weβre committed to a diverse and reliable Space Tech product portfolio that helps shape the future of space infrastructure.β
The PCBM is a critical component that enables secure and reliable docking of pressurized vehicles to the ISS. As one of the industryβs trusted suppliers of this flight-proven hardware, Sierra Spaceβs PCBM provides precise alignment and environmental sealing between the ISS and visiting spacecraft. The fully passive assembly, complementing the active system mounted on the ISS, features minimal moving parts, making it a highly dependable choice for international space missions. Sierra Space will also build the hatch system to round out the entry and exit connection.
