GoKawiilSierra Space tests Ghost reentry pod for 90-minute global cargo delivery
Sierra Space, a Sierra Nevada Corporation subsidiary, conducted two high-altitude balloon drop tests of its Ghost reentry vehicle, releasing it from 35,000 and 68,500 feet carrying a bottle of whiskey and a software-defined radio. The tests, part of U.S. Space Command's Apollo Nexus training exercise, mark the vehicle's first trial in two years and aimed to show that liquids and electronics could survive reentry and landing intact.
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The concept envisions cargo pods prepositioned in orbit for up to five years, then summoned to deliver supplies to troops in hard-to-reach or contested areas without relying on aircraft like the C-17 or C-130, according to Sierra Space's Erik Daehler. This suggests the military is exploring orbital logistics as a faster, less interceptable alternative to traditional airlift, though the approach remains in early testing and far from operational deployment.
- Sierra Space completed two balloon-drop tests of its Ghost reentry vehicle, its first in two years.
- The tests used a whiskey bottle and software-defined radio to verify liquids and electronics survive reentry.
- The project ties into Space Command's Apollo Nexus exercise and envisions pods staying in orbit up to five years before deployment.
Source: tomshardware.com — Jowi Morales, 2026-10-11
Published there as: “U.S. military-backed cargo pod promises 90-minute orbital delivery anywhere on Earth”
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