SpaceLoft
A reusable suborbital rocket that carries experiments into space for a short period of weightlessness, then brings them back for recovery.
Why it matters
Researchers can test hardware in real space conditions without paying for an orbital launch. Recent flights have tested deployable heat shields and other reentry technology for national labs.
How the technology works
SpaceLoft launches from Spaceport America in New Mexico and can release separate test vehicles in flight. Payloads come down on White Sands Missile Range, where a recovery team retrieves them, and much of the flight hardware is reused.
Sources
Updated Oct 21, 2026 · How we source facts · Suggest a correction