The Air Force had spoken to SpaceX about moving cargo in space. They would want to use SpaceX's next-generation reusable BFR rocket.

Apart from cargo operations, they would look at pre-positioning equipment and supplies in orbit, which would ready to be dropped to Earth.

The previous head of Air Mobility Command, Gen. Carlton Everhart, espoused the possibility of moving cargo using rockets during a Defense Writers Group breakfast in August.

"Think about this. Thirty minutes, 150 metric tons and less than the cost of a C-5," he said at the time.