The U.S. Department of Defense is taking a groundbreaking step in military cargo logistics. The Pentagon has signed a comprehensive agreement with Blue Origin and Anduril to transport military cargo from space to Earth.

The Pentagon will carry cargo to space

The U.S. Air Force is collaborating with Blue Origin and Anduril to transport military cargo from space to Earth as part of the Rocket Cargo program. These projects, for which Blue Origin has signed a $1.37 million contract and Anduril a $1 million contract, are expected to translate into billions of dollars in defense contracts in the future.

The projects are part of the REGAL (Rocket Experiments for Global Agile Logistics) program run by the U.S. Air Force Research Laboratory (AFRL). This program aims to deliver military cargo to any point on Earth in less than an hour using reusable rockets and space-return capsules.

As part of this plan, Blue Origin will analyze the potential for “point-to-point cargo transport” via the heavy-lift New Glenn rocket.

Anduril, known for its defense technologies, is entering new territory with this project. The company’s contract covers a feasibility study for a re-entry capsule capable of carrying 5 to 10 tons of cargo from orbit to Earth. This capsule must be compatible with various rockets and have a heat shield resistant to high temperatures.

Re-entry technology, one of the most critical issues in the space industry, must ensure that capsules return to Earth without burning up in the atmosphere and without damaging the cargo. Currently, the number of companies with this capability is limited. SpaceX’s Dragon capsule carries cargo and astronauts, while companies like Varda Space Industries are developing capsules for production.

The REGAL program aims to rapidly transport large cargo from space by returning it to Earth in a capsule. According to AFRL, this system will also be suitable for human transport in the long term.