Sierra Space has conducted two test flights of its Ghost return vehicle, designed to transport cargo from space to any location on Earth. The company aims to achieve a delivery time of 90 minutes, even to remote areas.
During the tests, the vehicle was dropped from high-altitude balloons at altitudes of 10.7 km and 20.9 km. The test payloads included a bottle of whiskey and a software-defined radio to assess the survival of liquids and sensitive electronics during descent and landing.
The Ghost system relies on cargo capsules pre-positioned in low Earth orbit, where they can remain for up to five years. Upon request, a capsule deorbits to deliver its payload, significantly reducing transit times compared to traditional launches.
While the recent tests confirmed the ability to safely recover payloads, the technology remains in development. Future milestones include demonstrating long-term orbital storage, atmospheric reentry, and precise landing capabilities.
