The American space and defense startup Inversion has revealed its new “Arc” spacecraft, a first-of-its-kind vehicle designed to deliver critical cargo from orbit to any point on Earth in less than an hour. The vehicle’s unveiling represents a significant step forward in the field of space-based logistics.
On-Demand Orbital Logistics Network
The Arc spacecraft, roughly the size of a large table, is designed to carry a payload of up to 220 kilograms, suitable for items like medical equipment or drones. Inversion’s strategy is to pre-deploy these vehicles in orbit for periods of up to five years, creating an on-demand network ready for rapid deployment. Upon activation, the vehicle can deliver its cargo to a designated location in under 60 minutes.
Featuring a “lifting body” design, Arc has a cross-range of approximately 1,000 kilometers, giving it significant maneuverability during atmospheric re-entry to select a wide area for landing. Unlike traditional spacecraft, it does not require a runway, instead utilizing parachutes for a safe landing. Its propulsion system uses non-toxic materials, allowing for immediate handling by personnel on the ground without specialized protective gear.
A Dual-Use Hypersonic Platform
Beyond its primary logistics function, Inversion is marketing Arc as a testbed for hypersonic research. The vehicle can reach speeds exceeding Mach 20 and endure the harsh conditions of re-entry for extended periods, making it an ideal platform for supporting the development of hypersonic technologies. The company emphasizes that Arc is fully reusable with precise landing capabilities, which would allow for more frequent and cost-effective high-speed testing for defense and aerospace applications.
This capability has already garnered interest, with Inversion being selected to participate in the “MACH-TB 2.0” program, signaling Arc’s potential role in national defense testing infrastructure. The company is building on the success of its smaller “Ray” demonstrator vehicle, which was launched in January to test key systems in orbit.
Relevance For The MENA Region
The development of the Arc spacecraft, while a US-led initiative, has direct relevance to the strategic ambitions of the MENA region. First, for nations like Saudi Arabia and the UAE that are investing billions to become global logistics and supply chain hubs, this technology represents the next frontier in ultra-fast, high-value delivery. Second, the vehicle’s dual-use capability as a hypersonic test platform aligns closely with the region’s focus on modernizing defense capabilities and developing sovereign advanced technology industries. Finally, as the burgeoning space economies in the UAE and KSA continue to expand, technologies like Arc introduce new commercial models and infrastructure layers that could attract significant investment and partnership opportunities.
About Inversion
Inversion is a US-based space and defense startup founded in 2021 by Justin Fiaschetti and Austin Briggs. The company is focused on building the first-ever on-demand, high-cadence return capability for the space industry, developing reusable spacecraft to create a rapid logistics network from space to any location on Earth.
Source: Al Arabiya
