Sierra Space, an American company, is planning to create an innovative emergency response system capable of delivering aid packages to any part of the world within 90 minutes.
This swift response mechanism could be a game-changer in managing disasters globally by leveraging a strategically placed network of space probes.
In today’s fast-paced world, courier services have improved significantly, promising delivery within a few days or even hours within major cities. However, there remains a gap in global logistics, especially in delivering critical supplies to disaster-stricken areas where every minute counts.
To address this challenge, Sierra Space proposes its revolutionary service named Ghost. Unlike traditional methods, Ghost promises to deliver goods to any location on Earth in 90 minutes. This initiative is somewhat similar to efforts by Chinese tech giant
Alibaba, which is experimenting with rocket technology to deliver packages anywhere on the planet within 60 minutes. However, the practicality of
Alibaba's approach is questionable due to potentially high transportation costs.
Ghost relies on an advanced cargo spacecraft designed with cutting-edge thermal protection systems, ensuring safe and timely delivery. Tom Vice, CEO of Sierra Space, highlighted the precise placement capability of their packages, ensuring delivery within a 91-meter radius of the target location, all within the ambitious timeframe of 90 minutes.
The company has already conducted successful drop tests from a height of 610 meters to test parachute deployment, impact resistance, and descent dynamics. Future tests are slated to be conducted from even higher altitudes, as reported by Gizmodo.
Sierra Space envisages positioning preloaded probes in orbit, carrying essential items like survival kits, inflatable boats, food, arms, and other necessities. Upon demand, the selected probe would begin its descent to Earth, equipped with a heat shield capable of withstanding temperatures up to 1,100 degrees Celsius as it re-enters the Earth’s atmosphere. These probes would be prepped for immediate deployment and could remain on standby for up to five years, with unused probes eventually being retrieved back to Earth.
This pioneering initiative by Sierra Space could redefine emergency logistics, providing an unprecedented response capability to disaster-hit regions worldwide.