LOUISVILLE — Louisville aerospace manufacturer Sierra Space Corp. this month launched Sierra Space Ventures, a venture-capital investment arm.

The new division “will focus on companies working to enable the next breakthroughs in human health, computing systems, telecommunications and clean energy that can be further accelerated through access to Sierra Space’s research facilities in low-Earth orbit (LEO),” the company said in a news release. 

Matthew Mejía has been elevated to the role of chief strategy and development officer to oversee Sierra Space Ventures. 

“Sierra Space has a critical role in advancing humanity’s presence in space, and we hope

to enable broader access to the vast potential space has to offer,” Mejía said in the release. “Through Sierra Space Ventures, we can offer prospective innovators access to our space

transportation and destination infrastructure to launch their own research in LEO and help

position them for success as they mature their capabilities and continue their capital

strategies.”

Sierra Space has two main aerospace projects: the Dream Chaser space plane, which is expected to be used to resupply the International Space Station starting next year; and the Large Integrated Flexible Environment (LIFE) Habitat, a modular, three-story commercial habitation, business and science platform.

“As a fully integrated space technology and business platform in space, our company has

a unique ability to advance the commercial space economy,” Sierra Space CEO Tom

Vice said in the release. “Sierra Space Ventures is the ideal complement to the pioneering work we do every day that will benefit humanity for decades and centuries to come. Through Ventures, we will help enable the next breakthroughs in human health, computing systems, telecommunications, clean energy, and unlock space as a new destination to explore and learn.”