Sierra Space Tests Ghost Reentry Vehicle for 90-Minute Orbital Delivery

Ghost Reentry Vehicle Test

Sierra Space, a subsidiary of Sierra Nevada Corporation, conducted two test drops of its Ghost reentry vehicle. The tests involved releasing the vehicle from high-altitude balloons at altitudes of 35,000 feet and 68,500 feet. This marks the first test of the vehicle in two years and is part of the U.S. Space Command’s Apollo Nexus training exercise.

Payload and Purpose

The Ghost vehicle carried a bottle of whiskey and a software-defined radio during the tests. These specific payloads were chosen to demonstrate the vehicle's ability to safely transport both liquids and sensitive electronics through atmospheric reentry. The successful recovery of these items indicates the system's potential for delivering diverse cargo.

Orbital Delivery Concept

The Ghost system is designed for prepositioning assets in space for up to five years, allowing for on-demand delivery to any location on Earth within 90 minutes. This approach aims to provide critical logistics support to military forces in areas where traditional air transport, such as C-17 or C-130 aircraft, cannot operate. The system offers an alternative logistics node for denied areas.

Logistical Implications

The concept requires the military to anticipate supply needs and launch cargo into orbit for storage. This strategy mirrors the U.S. military's current practice of pre-positioning supply ships and cargo in remote bases globally. The Ghost unit has a capacity of five to ten tons, indicating its role in delivering smaller, critical supplies rather than bulk cargo.