The Ghost prototype was tested in Florida in February, where it was used to drop loads from 600 and 1200 metres, and then to test the separation of the heat shield and the load. Further tests will launch the Ghost from higher altitudes and attempt to reach hypersonic speeds.

Sierra Space has developed the Ghost Space Device, which is essentially a heat shield that protects the payload from thermal effects when it enters the Earth’s atmosphere.

The Ghost is a safe and fast way to safely and quickly from space to any point on Earth, landing at the designated spot with a precision of about 100 metres.

The shields will later orbit in space for up to five years, waiting to be deployed, loaded with various equipment (such as survival kits, weapons or other supplies) and then on command they will begin their descent to the right place, with the engines slowing down their speed. Heat shields can protect cargo from temperatures of up to 1000 degrees Celsius. At the end of landing, the parachutes guide the cargo to the right place.

Ghost is being developed as a logistics platform for general use, but the potential military application of the technology could make it an additional asset for defence forces.

Sierra Space plans to have the spacecraft waiting in orbit with a pre-loaded payload, including weapons, and arriving on the surface within 90 minutes if needed, should they be “ordered” during a conflict.