The U.S. Air Force Is Funding A Spacecraft To Transport Cargo From Orbit

Sierra Space, a US-based aerospace company, is making strides in orbital logistics technology with the development of its “Ghost” spacecraft, capable of delivering critical supplies to any location on Earth within 90 minutes. This initiative is supported by the US Air Force Research Laboratory (AFRL) under its Rocket Experimentation for Global Agile Logistics (REGAL) program.

Sierra Space’s Ghost spacecraft is designed to provide a reusable, on-demand logistics solution, delivering heavy payloads to remote or disrupted areas from Earth’s orbit. Although the precise funding amount remains undisclosed, the project is a key element of AFRL’s REGAL program, which focuses on accelerating global logistics capabilities.

“The Sierra Space Ghost unlocks scalable point-to-point logistics, transforming the way high-value materiel is transported to disrupted areas when and where it is needed most,” said Sierra Space CEO Tom Vice. He emphasized that the project is a leap forward in logistics technology, especially for critical defense missions, and that it allows the company to expand Ghost into larger forms for heavier payloads.

Earlier this year, Sierra Space conducted successful drop tests at Florida’s Kennedy Space Center. The company and AFRL aim to enhance current capabilities by increasing payload capacity from 150 kg to up to 5 to 10 metric tons, filling the gap between small payload returns and high-tonnage down-mass systems.

One of the key features of the Ghost spacecraft is its advanced thermal protection system, which is compact during launch and expands in orbit to shield the payload from harsh space conditions and the intense heat of reentry. This technology ensures the spacecraft’s safe return to Earth and makes it suitable for a range of applications, including the rapid delivery of medical supplies and support for military operations.

With a five-year on-orbit lifespan, Ghost can either be pre-staged for supply missions or launched rapidly when needed. The cost of manufacturing each Ghost vehicle is estimated at tens of millions of dollars, though Sierra Space is working to reduce costs to just a few million dollars per unit in the future, according to reports from SpaceNews.