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The US Air Force has revealed a revolutionary project, known as Rocket Cargo, which can deliver cargo or personnel to any spot on the globe within one hour and a half by reusable rockets. The system belongs to the Rocket Experimentation for Global Agile Logistics (REGAL) program.
The goal is to develop a commercial, reusable rocket, capable of suborbital trajectory and landing anywhere on Earth in 60 to 90 minutes, offering unprecedented speed globally. Moreover, the final vehicle is also expected to have the same cargo capacity as a Globemaster III transport plane, which carries 77 tonnes in one trip.
In addition, the goal extends beyond simply building a large, reusable rocket with powered landing capabilities.
The REGAL program aims to create a fully integrated logistical system, working as a military air transport wing. It envisions a missile capable of transporting an entire US Marine detachment or large humanitarian aid shipment from Vandenberg Space Force Base to a remote location across the globe in a much shorter time required by conventional air cargo and at a comparable cost.
To advance this effort, the Air Force Research Laboratory (AFRL) has partnered with Rocket Lab USA to conduct an orbital survivability flight test slated for 2026.
In this mission, engineers will use Rocket Lab’s Neutron rocket, a medium-lift reusable vehicle that can carry 13 tonnes. The flight will be similar to a typical transport mission trajectory that will collect critical data to inform the design and construction of future Rocket Cargo Vehicles.
The survival test will involve a controlled reentry, with continuous monitoring of temperature, pressure, acceleration, heat flux, and their effects on structural elements, materials, and vehicle systems.
New data is crucial for validating mission models and ensuring the safety of payloads, especially when human passengers are onboard. Human-rated rockets must operate within very strict tolerances due to the inherent risks to human passengers.
Rocket Lab’s CEO, Sir Peter Beck, emphasized the significance of this partnership, stating that Neutron will establish a new benchmark for performance, affordability, and reliability in medium-lift launches for both government and commercial space applications.
Furthermore, Neutron’s inaugural flight, which is expected to be conducted this year, brings considerable excitement about its potential as a platform for research and development in point-to-point logistics for the DoD.
Image source by Rocket Lab Neutron Launch Vehicle Official Page
