While Fiaschetti declined to disclose specific customers, the U.S. Air Force is a clear potential adopter. “Close communication with potential customers has been crucial,” he said. “We understand what cargo they need and what matters most — speed and autonomy.” Autonomy is key to ensure precise landings even at updated locations mid-flight, said Fiaschetti.

Ray will head to space this October, on SpaceX’s Transporter-12 rideshare mission, paving the way for Inversion’s future plans on orbit (and back).

The mission to turn space into the next frontier for express deliveries took off from a modest propeller plane above a remote airstrip in the shadow of the Santa Ana mountains.

The U.S. military could store supplies in orbit and use Inversion's capsule to deliver them anywhere in the world.