Science & Tech · Space · 12 hrs ago
Sierra Space tests reentry vehicle for planned 90-minute global deliveries
Sierra Space has completed two tests of its Ghost reentry vehicle, which is designed to carry payloads back to Earth.
The tests used high-altitude balloons to release the vehicle from 35,000 feet and 68,500 feet.
It carried a bottle of whiskey and a software-defined radio.
Sierra Space plans to use assets positioned in space and call down delivery vehicles when needed, with a goal of reaching any point on Earth within 90 minutes.
The company is a subsidiary of Sierra Nevada Corporation and is backed by the U.S. military.
The demonstration is part of U.S. Space Command’s Apollo Nexus exercise, which tests coordination among multiple units in complex operations.
The tests were the vehicle’s first in two years; the sources do not say when operational deliveries will begin.
Sierra Space completed two test drops of its Ghost reentry vehicle.
The tests used high-altitude balloons to release the vehicle from 35,000 feet and 68,500 feet.
The company plans to use vehicles called down from space to deliver payloads anywhere on Earth within 90 minutes.
The demonstration was part of U.S. Space Command’s Apollo Nexus training exercise.
- Who
- Sierra Space, a subsidiary of Sierra Nevada Corporation.
- What
- It completed two test drops of its Ghost reentry vehicle. The company plans to use the vehicle for global deliveries within 90 minutes.
- When
- The article was published on 2026-10-11. The test date is not stated.
- Where
- The vehicle was dropped from high-altitude balloons; the test location is not stated.
- Why
- The demonstration was part of an exercise aimed at showing how multiple units can synchronize in complex operations.
This story does not have two clearly opposing sides.
No direct quotes in the coverage so far.
This story does not have a timeline yet.
- Test drops
- 2
- Vehicle
- Ghost reentry vehicle
- Drop altitudes
- 35,000 feet and 68,500 feet
- Planned delivery time
- Within 90 minutes to any point on Earth
- Exercise
- U.S. Space Command’s Apollo Nexus training exercise
Sources
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