Inversion, a Los Angeles-based aerospace innovator, has unveiled the Arc, a groundbreaking spacecraft designed to redefine global logistics and defense capabilities. This autonomous, reusable vehicle is engineered to transport critical cargo to any point on Earth in under an hour, marking a significant leap in rapid delivery systems. The Arc's design emphasizes swift deployment, capable of descending from low-Earth orbit, executing hypersonic reentry, and landing precisely via parachutes, eliminating the need for traditional runways. This capability opens up access to remote or infrastructure-limited areas with unprecedented speed and efficiency.
The Arc spacecraft measures 8 feet in length and 4 feet in width, with a payload bay designed to accommodate up to 500 pounds of essential materials. It possesses the remarkable ability to remain on standby in orbit for up to five years, ready for activation. Beyond its primary logistics role, Arc also serves as an advanced platform for hypersonic testing, maneuvering at speeds exceeding Mach 20. This dual functionality is particularly valuable for defense applications, enabling realistic replication of advanced threat trajectories and supporting faster, more cost-effective testing of hypersonic technologies.
The development of Arc builds upon the foundational work of Inversion's earlier spacecraft, Ray, which successfully validated key subsystems in early 2025, despite encountering a propulsion issue during reentry. Inversion is targeting the first mission for Arc in 2026, having already completed a full-scale manufacturing unit and conducted numerous landing accuracy tests. The company is also collaborating with NASA on next-generation thermal protection systems.
While initially focused on defense logistics, Inversion envisions Arc as the cornerstone of a future space-based global logistics network. This infrastructure could fundamentally transform global supply chains, offering unparalleled speed and reach. The company's vision aligns with historical logistics breakthroughs, such as railroads and aviation, which have historically unlocked new industries and reshaped economies. Inversion has secured significant backing, including a $71 million contract from SpaceWERX, the innovation arm of the U.S. Space Force, and has raised an additional $44 million in Series A funding. The company aims to deploy an operational constellation of Arc vehicles by 2028.
In the competitive landscape of space-based delivery, Inversion's Arc faces other innovative ventures. Varda Space is developing capsules for in-space pharmaceutical manufacturing, leveraging microgravity for advanced drug development. Outpost focuses on reusable orbital shipping containers, aiming for rapid Earth delivery within 90 minutes and also exploring in-space manufacturing of high-performance fiber optics. These companies, alongside Inversion, are collectively pushing the boundaries of what is possible in space logistics, each contributing to a future where Earth's access to critical resources and goods is dramatically enhanced.