--- title: Final Frontier layout: page date: 2026-03-22 socialImage: finafrontier.png
China’s military newspaper warns of an impending arms race in orbital space as mega-constellations like Starlink expand, while Rivian’s new partnership enables cheaper home EV charging and Lucid Motors reveals patent images for its Model Y rival. — ARC
The High Ground
China’s official military newspaper has warned of an impending arms race over orbital space than every existing and planned mega-constellation satellite infrastructure, currently led by SpaceX’s Starlink constellation. This stark assessment underscores the growing importance of establishing control over this critical resource. As SpaceX soars above Amazon in market cap, accelerating its launch cadence, it becomes increasingly crucial to develop a robust logistical network that can support the deployment and maintenance of these orbital assets.
The EV Race
Rivian has partnered with a new home charging provider to unlock cheaper home EV charging for buyers, according to InsideEVs’ recent report (3 hours ago). Meanwhile, patent images have revealed Lucid Motors’ Model Y and Rivian R2 rival, as reported by InsideEVs.
Frontier Speculation: The 0.1% Shift
What follows is purely a thought experiment.
Imagine a scenario where China’s military warning of an arms race in orbital space has sparked a quiet, high-stakes competition between Rivian and Lucid Motors to develop electric vehicle charging infrastructure in lunar regolith, driven by the need for reliable power sources in future moon-based satellite manufacturing hubs. The catalyst is SpaceX’s increasing dominance in market cap, which has led investors to reassess their stakes in terrestrial EV manufacturers like Rivian and Lucid. As a result, these companies are racing to secure lunar mining rights and develop specialized charging tech that can withstand the harsh, radiation-heavy environment of the moon’s surface. This unexpected shift has significant implications for the global energy market, as lunar-based manufacturing could create new demand for advanced, high-capacity batteries – further fueling the growth of Rivian and Lucid, while accelerating the transition away from fossil fuels on Earth.