Sierra Space, Dept. of Defense to partner of space plane logistics research

LOUISVILLE — Sierra Space Corp. and the U.S. Department of Defense’s Transportation Command have inked a cooperative research and development agreement to partner on ways to harness SSC’s space plane for super-fast delivery of military equipment and deployment personnel across the globe.

“Both parties will collaboratively explore space transportation as a new mode of point-to-point global terrestrial delivery of materiel and personnel, as an alternative and complement to traditional air, land and surface modes for Department of Defense global supply chains,” SSC said in a news release. “Additionally, the agreement outlines plans to identify current capabilities and maturity of Sierra Space’s space transportation methods, as well as both observed and projected risks, benefits and additional research and development needed as a result.

Sierra Space has two main aerospace projects: the Dream Chaser space plane, which is expected to be used to resupply the International Space Station starting next year; and the Large Integrated Flexible Environment (LIFE) Habitat, a modular, three-story commercial habitation, business and science platform.

“Through Dream Chaser, the world’s first commercial spaceplane, the Shooting Star cargo module and other projects, we are focused on providing unique ultra-high-speed, heavy payload solutions to the Department of Defense for logistics and personnel movement requirements,” SSC CEO Tom Vice said in the release. “We plan to leverage these technologies to reach anywhere on the globe within three hours.”

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