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Understanding Mars Helps Rocket Cargo on Earth, Military Official Says

Blue Origin's New Glenn is a heavy-lift launch vehicle capable of carrying people and payloads routinely to Earth orbit and beyond. It features a reusable first stage built for 25 missions. [Photo: Blue Origin]
Gemini Sparkle

Key Takeaways:

  • The U.S. Transportation Command (USTRANSCOM) and the Air Force are actively researching the use of commercial rockets for rapid, global delivery of military cargo and personnel.
  • This initiative is driven by recent advancements in commercial reusable rocket technology, which are making previously impractical high-speed logistics feasible and cost-effective.
  • USTRANSCOM is partnering with private space companies like SpaceX and Blue Origin to investigate operational challenges, feasibility, and use cases, with the goal of enhancing military readiness and humanitarian aid delivery.
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Editor’s Note: This article first appeared on FreightWaves.com.

Development of spaceships that can operate in the Mars environment is providing lessons for scientists exploring rockets that could deliver cargo across the Earth in an hour, the new head of U.S. Transportation Command said.

Eric Kulisch

Eric is the Air Cargo Market Editor at FreightWaves. An award-winning business journalist with extensive experience covering the logistics sector, Eric spent nearly two years as the Washington, D.C., correspondent for Automotive News, where he focused on regulatory and policy issues surrounding autonomous vehicles, mobility, fuel economy and safety. He has won two regional Gold Medals from the American Society of Business Publication Editors for government coverage and news analysis, and was voted best for feature writing and commentary in the Trade/Newsletter category by the D.C. Chapter of the Society of Professional Journalists. As associate editor at American Shipper Magazine for more than a decade, he wrote about trade, freight transportation and supply chains. Eric is based in Portland, Oregon. He can be reached for comments and tips at ekulisch@freightwaves.com

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