The U.S. military plans to use Elon Musk's reusable SpaceX rockets and vehicles for short-notice cases such as sending soldiers to Africa immediately in case its embassies are attacked.
US Military and Elon Musk's Space X Collaboration for Fast Transportation
Based on the 18th Air Force website, U.S. Army General Stephen R. Lyon said during the National Defense Transportation Association's Fall Meeting that U.S. Transportation Command (USTRANSCOM) is looking to space to quickly transfer vital logistics during time-sensitive emergencies or to provide humanitarian aid.
Traditionally, operations in the Pacific Ocean theater, for instance, may travel 10,000 kilometers in one direction. Lyons stated that the ultimate goal would be to fly a C-17 cargo plane equivalent anywhere on the planet in less than 60 minutes.
"Think about that speed associated with the movement of transportation of cargo and people. There is a lot of potential here and I'm really excited about the team that's working with SpaceX on an opportunity, even perhaps, as early as 21, to be conducting a proof of principle," Lyons said.
Steve Nutt, a professor of materials science and aerospace engineering at the University of Southern California, said that SpaceX could meet the need of transporting supplies faster when the U.S. military is retooling due to rising political tensions around the world. He added that the rockets from SpaceX would help deliver hardware and supply rapidly anywhere in the world.
According to the Pentagon, successful point-to-point space travel could even discourage non-state actors from hostile acts against the United States. In addition to more conventional strategic airlift missions, it is also considering utilizing the rockets to quickly transport deployable air bases.
USTRANSCOM deputy commander, U.S. Navy Vice Adm. Dee Mewbourne, said that the agency has been restricted to around 40,000 feet altitude and 600 miles per hour in its airlift delivery, which is the fastest logistics method. In addition, the current space transportation is more weight- and volume-constrained than airlift. It also faces difficulties throughout operations such as positioning, launching, and recovery.
US Military and Elon Musk's SpaceX Contracts
In March 2020, the Pentagon's U.S. Transportation Command (USTRANSCOM) and SpaceX signed a research and development contract to determine whether it is feasible to fly supplies and troops to hotspots across the world requiring refuel or making stops.
USTRANSCOM has partnered with SpaceX and XArc to research space travel. Through these collaborations, the Department of Defense (DOD) can take advantage of technology advancements made outside the government.
The CRADA examines use cases, technical and commercial viability, and concepts of using space as a mode of transportation in support of USTRANSCOM's function as the Defense Department's global logistics provider. Industry participates voluntarily in the CRADA without receiving any financial support from the government. The Intercept shared detailed information about the report.
Business Insider recorded three contracts between Space X and the U.S. Military. One of the contracts is the billion-dollar agreement for the launching of Space Force rockets. Another contract costs $149 million to create satellites that could track missiles. The third contract aims to build a rocket capable of delivering weapons worldwide at 7,500 mph.
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