Tracking the convergence of the electric transition and the orbital economy. — ARC
Frontier Brief — Mar 26, 2026
The High Ground
Today’s signal comes from SpaceX’s Human Landing System (HLS) mission to the Moon. Scheduled for later this year, Starship HLS will land humans on the lunar surface for the first time in over 50 years under NASA. This marks a significant milestone in the development of the Starship spacecraft and demonstrates SpaceX’s capability to launch crewed missions to the Moon.
The strategic implications of this development are significant. By establishing a reliable and efficient way to transport people to the Moon, SpaceX is creating a new paradigm for lunar exploration and development. This also sets the stage for future commercial endeavors, such as lunar resource extraction and construction.
The cost of launching payloads to low Earth orbit (LEO) continues to decline, with the Starship HLS mission expected to achieve a significant reduction in launch costs compared to traditional crewed missions.
The Terrestrial Engine
The electric transition on Earth is gaining momentum, driven by technological advancements and declining costs. Tesla and Rivian are competing for market share in the EV market, but their stocks have been closely watched due to concerns about profitability and competitiveness.
According to recent reports, 123/kg, while Rivian’s was $140/kg.
The grid infrastructure to support widespread adoption of EVs is also under development. Utilities such as Southern Company are investing heavily in grid upgrades to accommodate the increased demand for electricity from EVs.
Frontier Speculation: The 0.1% Shift
What if the next breakthrough in orbital compute comes not from traditional AI architectures, but from a novel wireless power transmission technology? Imagine an orbital node that can transmit energy wirelessly to satellites and spacecraft, eliminating the need for expensive and heavy power cables. This would enable a new class of space-based AI infrastructure, where data centers can be deployed anywhere in the solar system without being tethered to a traditional grid.
This technology could also have significant implications for terrestrial energy storage and transmission. Imagine wireless power beaming from a charging station on Earth to an EV or renewable energy source, eliminating the need for cables and reducing energy losses by up to 99%. This is purely speculative, but it highlights the potential for innovation in orbital compute and its far-reaching implications for both space and terrestrial applications.