A new kind of delivery system is being set up in low Earth orbit. Inversion Space, a relatively small space startup founded in 2021, is prepping its space-based delivery vehicle for flight. The reusable spacecraft is designed to drop off cargo from space to Earth on a tight schedule, building a constellation of on-demand vehicles parked in orbit.
This week, Inversion unveiled its flagship Arc vehicle, a 4-foot wide, 8-foot tall spaceplane, cargo capsule hybrid capable of carrying 500 pounds (225 kilograms) of supplies. The California-based startup is aiming to launch Arc by the end of 2026, building on the lessons learned from the inaugural mission of its demo vehicle earlier this year.
Space delivery
The idea behind building Arc is not just providing access to space, but rather being