Tom's Hardware reports that Sierra Space has completed two test drops of its Ghost reentry vehicle using high-altitude balloons, from 35,000 and 68,500 feet. The payloads—a bottle of whiskey and a software-defined radio—were chosen to show that liquids and sensitive electronics can survive reentry and recovery. The drops were part of U.S. Space Command's Apollo Nexus training exercise and mark the first Ghost test in two years.
Ghost is intended to remain in orbit for up to five years and be called down on demand, delivering cargo to any point on Earth within 90 minutes. Sierra Space's Erik Daehler said the goal is getting supplies to troops in denied areas where aircraft cannot operate. The vehicle's 5–10 ton capacity means it is suited for equipment, ammunition, and supplies rather than tanks or artillery.
Unlike a rocket launch from the other side of the world, the concept relies on pre-positioning payloads in space, similar to how the U.S. stations cargo ships at overseas bases. The company says the test demonstrated that payloads can come through the environment and be recovered by ground teams within a certain period.