This article discusses Sierra Space and the U.S. Air Force Research Laboratory (AFRL) exploring the potential use of the Ghost spacecraft for rapid cargo delivery from space to Earth. The Ghost spacecraft, designed by Sierra Space, can remain in orbit for up to five years, allowing it to store and deliver essential supplies to Earth in under 90 minutes. This capability has broad potential applications, such as delivering rescue kits for downed pilots, medical supplies for disaster relief, or logistical support for military operations. The project is part of the AFRL’s Rocket Experimentation for Global Agile Logistics (REGAL) program, which seeks to bridge the gap between current small payload return capabilities and larger-scale down-mass systems. Sierra Space has already conducted successful drop tests in 2024 and plans further testing to refine operational concepts.

This development has potential cybersecurity implications, especially as sensitive military and logistical operations move to space-based platforms. Secure communication, data transfer, and ensuring the integrity of control systems for spacecraft such as Ghost will be critical. Given the military applications, the need for robust encryption and countermeasures against cyberattacks on space infrastructure becomes more pressing, as adversaries may seek to disrupt or intercept these operations. Furthermore, the logistical data stored in orbital warehouses and relayed to the ground would require enhanced protection against unauthorized access.

Erwin, S. (2024, October 3). U.S. Air Force to study use of Sierra Space ‘Ghost’ spacecraft to deliver cargo from orbit. SpaceNews. Retrieved from https://spacenews.com/the-air-force-is-exploring-the-potential-of-space-vehicles-to-rapidly-transport-critical-supplies-from-orbital-warehouses-back-to-earth/