The US military envisions a future in which battalion-sized troop vehicles powered by rocket technology could respond to emergencies anywhere in the world. Towards this end, Pentagon wants Elon Musk to drop soldiers into conflict from space.
In order to assess the idea of utilizing SpaceX's rockets to deliver troops and equipment into international flashpoints, the Pentagon is working with Elon Musk's firm.
According to a research agreement that was initially obtained by The Intercept through a Freedom of Information Act request and made public on June 19, the military's engagement with the private aircraft industry spans a wide range of research endeavors.
The U.S. Transportation Command (USTRANSCOM) and SpaceX are working together "to collaboratively investigate commercial space transportation capabilities as a transportation mode to expedite global delivery of Department of Defense (DoD) material and personnel," according to the Cooperative Research and Development Agr...