Inversion Space has Unveiled the Design of a Fully Reusable, Lifting-Body Spacecraft - Arc

Inversion Space, building autonomous, highly-maneuverable re-entry vehicles to deliver cargo and effects from space, led by Justin Fiaschetti, Austin Briggs, Jackson Kemper, III, Collin Corey, and others, has unveiled the design of Arc, a spacecraft intended to deliver critical cargo from space to any point on Earth within an hour, landing on water, snow or soil with a precision of around 50 feet.

The concept targets the defense sector, aligning with the U.S. military’s long-standing interest in using space-based systems for rapid global cargo delivery to meet urgent operational needs.

The mission envisions launching the Arc spacecraft into low Earth orbit, where it remains until needed. When deployment is required, Arc de-orbits and re-enters the atmosphere at high speed, using thrusters and large maneuvering flaps to control its descent and position toward the designated drop zone.

At lower altitudes, Arc deploys an actively controlled parachute system that slows and guides it for a precise, soft landing, allowing full reuse. The entire mission is uncrewed, managed autonomously from launch to touchdown. Inversion’s goal of delivering cargo anywhere within an hour mirrors a 2020 initiative by U.S. Transportation Command (TRANSCOM).

At the time, U.S. Army Gen. Stephen R. Lyons, then head of TRANSCOM, envisioned moving a C-17-sized payload anywhere in under an hour, a leap in global logistics speed. TRANSCOM soon partnered with SpaceX and XArc to explore space-based rapid delivery, with SpaceX later advancing the concept through the Air Force and Space Force’s “Rocket Cargo” program.

Arc’s payload capacity is far smaller than the C-17’s, around 500 pounds versus 60–80 tons, but its focus is entirely different. Measuring roughly eight by four feet, Arc is designed for the rapid delivery of critical, lightweight components. As the Navy has noted, 90% of mission capability issues can be fixed by parts weighing under 50 pounds. Inversion sees Arc filling that gap, delivering “mission-enabling cargo” anywhere on Earth at unprecedented speed.

Inversion hasn’t specified what Arc would carry beyond “equipment, food, or other mission cargo.” Likely payloads include time-critical supplies such as parts or ammunition for forward bases. Pre-positioned in orbit, Arc could deploy instantly, unlike atmospheric systems like the Snow Goose, which are slower, more vulnerable, and limited by regional launch needs. Given the high cost of space launches, Arc deliveries would likely be reserved for only the most critical missions where rapid, high-value transport is essential.

Such a capability could be especially valuable in future Indo-Pacific contingencies, where rapid, space-based delivery of critical supplies might offer a strategic edge, if the technology proves reliable. Arc’s reusability adds cost efficiency, as recovered vehicles can be redeployed. Inversion envisions multiple Arc spacecraft orbiting simultaneously, effectively a constellation of pre-positioned cargo modules, each tailored to specific missions or customers. Each vehicle can reportedly remain in orbit for up to five years.

Another key advantage of Arc is its parachute-based landing system, which allows it to deliver cargo virtually anywhere on Earth, including remote regions, disaster zones, or contested warzones. Unlike suborbital VTOL rocket concepts that require ground infrastructure for recovery, Arc eliminates that need for small payloads, enabling truly global, infrastructure-free delivery.

Last month, Inversion successfully completed precision drop tests of its actively controlled parachute system, demonstrating Arc’s ability to deliver cargo accurately. The company aims to launch its first Arc mission as early as next year, an ambitious target, but it benefits from experience gained with its Ray spacecraft, launched on SpaceX’s Transporter-12 mission in January, which validated key technologies like solar panels, propulsion, and separation systems now being integrated into Arc.

For now, Inversion is concentrating on Arc’s defense applications, though commercial uses and potential adaptations, such as reusable satellites or orbital resupply vehicles, remain on the horizon. The company envisions producing hundreds of spacecraft annually but must first demonstrate that space-based cargo delivery can be cost-effective and navigate the regulatory hurdles inherent to such a novel transportation system.

Despite past setbacks and failed attempts, the concept of space-based rapid transport persists. With its smaller payloads, reusability, and parachute-landing system, Inversion’s on-demand deorbit cargo model could be the breakthrough that finally makes global space delivery viable.