The US Air Force Research Laboratory (AFRL) has signed a contract with Rocket Lab, launch services and space systems provider, for a key demonstration for its Rocket Experimentation for Global Agile Logistics (REGAL) project. The aim of REGAL is to demonstrate the feasibility of the Department of Defense’s goal of establishing point-to-point high priority cargo transportation using orbital-class rockets.

The rockets, loaded with cargo, will be able to get around the world in record timeframes, re-entering the atmosphere to land and deliver their payload. This innovative, highly ambitious solution to high-priority logistics was the 4th of the so-called “Vanguard” programs announced by the Department of the Air Force back in June 2021. Vanguard programs intend to “rapidly advance emerging weapon systems and warfighting concepts through prototyping and experimentation” and the other 3 were the SKYBORG Artificial Intelligence for drones; the NTS-3 enhanced space-based positioning, navigation and timing (PNT) solution and GOLDEN HORDE, a system of collaborative, autonomous networked weapons.

Rocket Lab will use its NEUTRON rocket for a return-to-Earth mission planned for “no earlier than 2026”.

The demonstration will be about rocket cargo survivability. Rocket Lab’s NEUTRON is a partially re-usable medium lift, 2-stage rocket with an intended payload of up to 13,000 kg. Originally  envisaged for the deployment of payloads in Low Earth orbit, under this contract it will instead have to demonstrate its ability to safely deliver cargo through re-entry into the atmosphere and landing at a remote location.

Specifically, the USAF notified back in March that it intends to publish a Draft Environmental Assessment (EA) and a Draft Finding of No Significant Impact (FONSI) regarding the construction and operation of 2 landing pads on the Johnston Atoll, an unincorporated territory of the US under USAF jurisdiction in the middle of the pacific, 750 miles south-east of the Hawaii.

The stated intent it to have the pads supporting up to 10 re-entry vehicle landings per year across a 4-year period of trials.

Assuming the NEUTRON mission includes landing on Johnston Atoll, it will be a very significant feat: take off from Virginia, on the Atlantic Coast, for landing soon afterwards in the middle of the Pacific ocean.

NEUTRON is still undergoing qualification and assembly ahead of the planned debut in the second half of 2025. While the second stage is certified, the process for the first stage is still ongoing. Launch Complex 3 at the Mid-Atlantic Regional Spaceport (MARS) at NASA’s Wallops Flight Facility in Virginia is being readied for NEUTRON’s debut. The top of Stage 1 is where the payload will be contained and where it is delivered from, thanks to an opening nose cone. The company calls the reusable fairing “hungry hippo”. This stage is fitted with control canards.

Production and full-scale testing continues, including on the ARCHIMEDES engine. In the meanwhile, Rocket Lab has also secured is place within the US Space Force’s National Security Space Launch Phase 3 Lane 1 program, which will enable the company, once NEUTRON has been demonstrated, to compete annually against 6 other launch providers for missions.

Follow us on Telegram, Facebook and X.