Sierra Space tests Ghost reentry vehicle for rapid global delivery

Sierra Space successfully conducted a high-altitude drop test of its Ghost reentry vehicle on October 11, 2026, at the Dugway Proving Ground in Utah. The 10-ton test article was released from a balloon at 68,500 feet as part of the U.S. Space Command’s Apollo Nexus exercise.

The test validated the system’s structural thermal protection and precision landing guidance. The Ghost platform utilizes a deployable decelerator thermal shield designed to withstand reentry temperatures up to 2,000°F. Following atmospheric entry, the vehicle executes an automated shield jettison and deploys a steerable parafoil system, which guided the payload to within 100 meters of its target landing zone.

Designed for 5- to 10-ton cargo capacities, the Ghost system aims to provide 90-minute global point-to-point delivery. The vehicle can be pre-positioned in low Earth orbit for up to five years to serve as an emergency supply repository. This technology supports the Department of Defense’s Tactically Responsive Space (TacRS) framework, offering a space-based alternative to traditional air or sea mobility for delivering critical supplies to contested or austere locations.