The U.S. Department of the Air Force’s Rocket Cargo program is aiming to use commercial rockets for military transportation. The program is expected to run a series of test flights in 2024 to determine if it is feasible. SpaceX is currently involved in helping to collect flight data for this project. One successful test flight was completed, but another ended in an explosion. The program aims to use the data collected to assess the feasibility of carrying out a successful rocket launch and conceive the program desires to demonstrate an ability to rapidly launch rockets, bring large masses of cargo down from orbit, and rapidly load and unload cargo.
The main point of the AFRL’s part in the program is to understand the practicalities of transporting via a rocket, involving factors of cargo response and toleration, how rocket stress would affect parts and how to quickly unload and reuse cargo containers.
The program wants to collect data and run testing on these topics over the next few years, using the opportunity to run this research economically for the public.
