Sierra Space tests Ghost cargo vehicle with balloon drops

Sierra Space completed two balloon drops of its Ghost reentry vehicle carrying a bottle of whiskey and a software-defined radio, Tom's Hardware reported, citing Aviation Week. The drops from 35,000 feet and 68,500 feet tested whether liquids and sensitive electronics could survive part of the return to Earth and be recovered by a ground team. The demonstration formed part of U.S. Space Command's Apollo Nexus training exercise and was the vehicle's first test in two years. Sierra Space says Ghost could deliver prepositioned orbital cargo anywhere on Earth within 90 minutes. That concept requires supplies to be launched in advance; these tests used balloons rather than orbital reentry.