Revolutionizing global aerospace transportation
The development of reusable launch vehicles and advancements in propulsion and AI could enable suborbital point-to-point transportation, allowing travel from one point on Earth to the opposite side in just an hour or two. The U.S. should develop a comprehensive initiative to lead in Global Rapid Transport, enabling commercial suborbital cargo operations within five years and passenger operations within 10 years.
The advent of reusable launch vehicles and breakthroughs in propulsion and AI has created an opportunity for dramatic changes in long-distance, high-speed aerospace transportation. Suborbital point-to-point transportation through space could enable travel from one point on Earth to the opposite side in just an hour or two, benefiting national security and economic competitiveness. The SpaceX Starship is an example of a vehicle that could carry hundreds of passengers or over 100 metric tons of cargo on point-to-point missions. Other companies are developing smaller systems for long-distance, high-speed transportation. To succeed, these systems must address technical and logistical risks, regulatory uncertainty, and lack of demonstrated market demand. The U.S. should develop a comprehensive initiative to lead in Global Rapid Transport, enabling commercial suborbital cargo operations within five years and passenger operations within 10 years.
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