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Space

Five Companies Developing Rocket Delivery for U.S. Transportation Command

Frank Wolfe

Thursday, September 8th, 2022

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Five Companies Developing Rocket Delivery for U.S. Transportation Command

Illustration of rocket cargo delivery by Air Force Research Laboratory.

Five companies have signed Cooperative Research & Development Agreements (CRADAs) with U.S. Transportation Command (USTRANSCOM) to develop rockets to deliver cargo and personnel rapidly around the globe. SpaceX and BlueOrigin were already pursuing CRADAs with USTRANSCOM, but Sierra Space, Rocket Lab USA [RKLB], and Virgin Orbit National Systems [VORB] are recent entries. The recent CRADAs "are expected to add new dimensions of information to USTRANSCOM’s ongoing research into the heavy cargo lift capabilities of commercial partners at SpaceX and Blue…

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