In this episode of Grit Daily Startup Show, host John Biggs delved into the innovative world of space re-entry vehicles with Justin Fiaschetti, the CEO and co-founder of Inversion. Fiaschetti’s company is pioneering the development of space capsules designed to store cargo in low Earth orbit and deliver it anywhere on Earth in under an hour. The aim is to transform the transportation industry by leveraging space technology for rapid, precise deliveries.
Inversion’s capsules are equipped with solar panels and communication radios, allowing them to operate autonomously once in orbit. These capsules can be launched using rockets like SpaceX’s Falcon 9 and remain in space until they receive coordinates to return to a specified location on Earth.
There is an upcoming October mission featuring a subscale vehicle named Ray that will test these capabilities. Primarily, Ray will demonstrate the ability to deorbit and land precisely, proving the feasibility of Inversion’s concept.
One of the primary applications of this technology is delivering medical supplies and drones to remote or inaccessible areas. Fiaschetti emphasized that while the technology could theoretically be used for weaponry, there are international treaties that prohibit the placement of large-scale weapons in space. Instead, Inversion focuses on humanitarian and logistical uses, akin to how airplanes were initially used for mail delivery before warfare purposes.
Just as the advent of airplanes and ships expanded global access and facilitated faster movement of goods and people, Inversion’s space capsules aim to add a new layer to transportation. The potential to have a warehouse in space, ready to deliver critical supplies anywhere on the planet within an hour, represents a major milestone.
When the question of whether this technology could be used for everyday consumer deliveries was raised, Fiaschetti acknowledged the elasticity of the market. He suggested that as costs decrease, new use cases will emerge. However, the immediate focus is on high-value, urgent deliveries rather than mundane items like food or consumer goods.
The technical challenges of space operations are substantial, including the complexities of hardware supply chains, the importance of robust manufacturing processes, and the high stakes of space missions where there is little room for error. Inversion’s approach includes breaking the mission into phases, such as in-space operations and the deorbit process, to manage and mitigate risks.
Recruitment and team building have been critical for Inversion, given the need for expertise across various engineering disciplines. The company has navigated these challenges by fostering a culture of innovation and resilience. Fiaschetti’s background as a propulsion engineer at SpaceX and Relativity Space, along with his co-founder, has been instrumental in shaping the company’s vision and capabilities.
Despite the challenges, Fiaschetti expressed confidence that within the next three to five years, space capsule re-entries will become as routine as airplane flights. He sees a future where these events are so common that they no longer capture public attention, signifying their integration into everyday logistics. For him, the challenge and the opportunity to leave a lasting legacy make the endeavor worthwhile.
