Inversion Space is looking to bring new “space warehouse” capabilities to the military logistics sector.
The startup, founded in 2021, is developing reusable reentry capsules to store cargo in orbit. That cargo will be on standby for delivery to Earth. When called upon, the company will be able to deliver it anywhere on Earth within an hour.
The technology will soon be put to the test during Inversion Space’s “Ray” pathfinder mission, which is currently scheduled for early October.
Revolutionizing military cargo deployment
Inversion Space’s Ray mission is expected to fly aboard SpaceX’s Transporter-12 rideshare mission. The company will deploy and test technologies that will support the development of a larger capsule.
In an interview with SpaceNews, Inversion Space co-founder and CEO Justin Fiaschetti said the company’s capsules will be able to store a large range of goods, including medical supplies and military gear.
Meet Ray – our pathfinder re-entry vehicle. Ray will be launching to orbit and returning back to Earth this October and is our first step in making space a transportation layer. pic.twitter.com/NjNKrKw1WH
“Militaries are always in need of fast, precise cargo delivery across the globe,” he explained, adding that “speed and autonomy” are key factors. Autonomous systems will, of course, allow the capsules to perform precise landings at their destinations.
Inversion Space sees its main customer as the Defense Department. Once its infrastructure is in place, it aims to provide more affordable private sector options. The company has yet to disclose the load capacity for its capsules.
Inversion Space’s Ray mission
During the October Ray mission, Inversion Space’s capsule will remain in orbit for several weeks. A team on the ground will analyze the state of the capsule and collect data.
Once the mission has ended, the capsule will perform a deorbit burn with using an onboard rocket engine. After reentry, it will deploy two parachutes developed by Inversion Space. If all goes to plan it will perform a soft splashdown off the coast of California.
The data collected during that mission will help Inversion Space develop a larger cargo capsule for its operational missions.
Inversion Space’s system brings to mind SpaceX’s “Earth to Earth” transportation concept from a few years ago. In fact, Fiaschetti is a former propulsion engineer for SpaceX and Relativity Space.
The company will also face competition from private space firm Sierra Space. The Sierra Space Ghost recently entered the final stage of testing and it also has the capacity to deliver cargo within a 90-minute window.
Chris Young Chris Young is a journalist, copywriter, blogger and tech geek at heart who’s reported on the likes of the Mobile World Congress, written for Lifehack, The Culture Trip, Flydoscope and some of the world’s biggest tech companies, including NEC and Thales, about robots, satellites and other world-changing innovations.
