Current News

Atlanta, April 19, 2013 - SpaceWorks is proud to provide renderings of our advanced concepts as desktop, tablet, and mobile backgrounds. These images are free to download for personal use, but may not be used in a commercial capacity. All images are copyright SpaceWorks Enterprises, Inc.

You can browse our new Gallery and Download the images here.

Atlanta, February 19, 2013 - SpaceWorks Enterprises, Inc. (SEI) today released an update to its nanosatellite and microsatellite market analysis study. The study presents the latest observations, trends, and projections for the nano/microsatellite market. Projections indicate more than 100 nano/micro satellites will need launches annually in the year 2020 and beyond.

Summary Document Link (SpaceWorks Nano/Microsatellite Market Assessment 2013): SpaceWorks_NanoMicrosat_Market_Feb2013.pdf.

For more information please see the press release.

For information on subscribing to the SpaceWorks satellite launch demand database or our custom market assessment services, click here.

Atlanta, January 24, 2013 - SpaceWorks Engineering, a division of SpaceWorks Enterprises, Inc. (SEI) has established a new focus area related to uncertainty quantification and margin management (UQM2) for advanced aerospace systems. The new capability will be available to all of SEI’s customers across our business lines immediately.

UQM2 involves the use of numerical, statistical simulation to predict the uncertainties and associated risks for future aerospace flight systems or overall mission architectures made up of many complex and interactive elements. Understanding the uncertainties involved in mass predictions, cost predictions, payload predictions, and reliability predictions will lead to improved likelihoods of program success by allowing project and program managers to better manage the margins they typically maintain throughout the design and development effort.

“Our new UQM2 focus area builds on many of the supporting capabilities SpaceWorks has developed over the last decade including multidisciplinary design methods, integrated and automated toolsets, design-oriented life cycle analysis tools, fast-acting ROSETTA models, and our Mission Scenario Analysis Tool (MSAT),” says Dr. John Olds, SpaceWorks’ CEO. “We are responding to the needs of our commercial and government customers in this emerging area. In today’s constrained budgetary environment, aerospace developments are becoming increasingly success-oriented and risk adverse. Understanding the inherent uncertainties in the development process across multiple figures of merit will better inform project and program managers on where and how best to position their reserves and margins.”

Atlanta, October 1, 2012 - SpaceWorks Engineering, a division of SpaceWorks Enterprises, Inc. (SEI), announced today that Ms. Elizabeth Buchen has been promoted to the position of Director of the Engineering Economics Group (EEG). Ms. Buchen will manage the EEG and provide support for its customers through a variety of systems engineering and risk analysis services.

Atlanta, September 28, 2012 - SpaceWorks Enterprises, Inc. (SEI) has published the results of an internal study of a lunar lander concept to support missions from Earth-Moon L2 to the lunar surface. The preferred concept consists of a two-stage reusable lander powered by Lox/LH2 rocket engines.

NASA is considering human exploration architectures with bases at L2 among other locations. SpaceWorks supports the idea of cislunar space as the next destination for human exploration.

For more information please refer to the presentation.

Atlanta, September 28, 2012 - SpaceWorks Engineering, a division of SpaceWorks Enterprises, Inc. (SEI) has selected L-3 Coleman Aerospace to assist with the facilitation of a series of air drop tests for the Japanese Air Launch System Enabling Technology (ALSET) project. SpaceWorks is providing US-based program management for the project in support of a Japanese team led by Japan Space Systems, and including IHI Aerospace Co., Ltd. (IA) and CSP Japan, Inc. (CSP-J).

The ALSET project is a Japanese government Ministry of Economy, Trade, and Industry (METI) funded project to examine air-launch orbital payload delivery systems and related technologies as a first step toward an operational commercial air launch system. The operational system is planned to involve air launch of a multi-stage solid rocket from an existing large carrier aircraft (C-130 class) for delivery of small payloads on the order of 100 to 200 kilograms to low earth orbit. The ALSET program seeks to demonstrate the technologies necessary for air launch as part of a Japanese civil space small air-launch vehicle technology development roadmap. ALSET culminates with a series of drop tests of an instrumented full-scale inert test article (an "iron bird” mass simulator) from the carrier aircraft at a test range in the United States.

L-3 Coleman Aerospace will work with SpaceWorks to assist the Japanese team with drop test preparations and is responsible for the design and integration of an instrumentation subsystem to collect engineering data during the drop tests. Coleman Aerospace has extensive experience with air drop programs, having served as a prime contractor for the single-stage Short Range Air Launch Target (SRALT), the two-stage Long Range Air Launch Target (LRALT), and the three-stage Enhanced Long Range Air Launch Target (E-LRALT). In addition to these live air launch programs, L-3 Coleman Aerospace designed, built, integrated, and supported air drop tests of the NASA Jumbo Drop Test Vehicle (JDTV).

Atlanta, 17 September 2012 - SpaceWorks Software announces the release of Flight Condition Calculator.

With the release of Flight Condition Calculator, SpaceWorks Software has made it easier than ever to perform basic aerospace calculations and conversions on the go. This free application is available for download on both Apple and Android mobile devices.

The Calculator analyzes flight conditions up to 150,000 feet (~45,700 m) and gives the choice of expressing inputs and outputs in either English units or SI units. With in-depth calculations, five different modes of operation, and definitions for all parameters used, the Flight Condition Calculator is a great addition to any app library. Find it on both the App Store and Google Play.

Atlanta, September 7, 2012 - SpaceWorks Engineering, a division of SpaceWorks Enterprises, Inc. (SEI) announces the addition of Mr. Tyler Sartin to its staff. Mr. Sartin will be a Space Systems Engineer in the division's Engineering Economics Group (EEG) in Atlanta, Georgia. At SpaceWorks, Mr. Sartin will assist with parametric cost estimating of advanced space systems for NASA, Department of Defense (DoD), commercial, and entrepreneurial customers in the aerospace sector. He will also provide technical analysis related to reliability prediction and ground operations modeling for future space launch systems.

Atlanta, July 30, 2012 - SpaceWorks Commercial, the new business development and incubator division of SpaceWorks Enterprises, Inc., has helped launch a new start-up business called Terminal Velocity Aerospace, LLC (TVA). TVA will produce and sell small protective space capsules for reentry data collection and small payload recovery. TVA's first product is a small device for gathering breakup data during reentry of a spacecraft or launch vehicle stage.

Atlanta, 02 July 2012 - SpaceWorks Engineering recently presented at the Global Space Exploration Conference (GLEX 2012) in Washington, DC.

The conference brought together leaders of major space agencies, industry, governments, academia, and non-government organizations from around the world to discuss the future of human and robotic space exploration. The meeting was jointly hosted by the AIAA and IAF.

During the conference, SpaceWorks presented a paper titled "Cryogenic Propulsive Stages for Human Exploration beyond Low Earth Orbit". The paper summarized the results of a six month study that SpaceWorks performed for United Launch Alliance. Details are presented on the impact of different design variables on cryogenic propulsive stages and the technologies that can influence these design variables. A notional exploration architecture using cryogenic stages and taking advantage of these technologies is also presented.

For more information, please read the paper and the presentation.

Atlanta, 29 June 2012 - SpaceWorks Software announces update to OrbitSim HD app for the iPad.

The anticipated update to the OrbitSim HD iPad app, Version 1.1, has been released. Users will find several new and interesting features in Version 1.1, including a display containing nearby orbits, sample problems to try along with their solutions, and the addition of a third system of units for calculations: Astronomical Units.

OrbitSim HD is an orbital mechanics simulator that can be enjoyed by students, hobbyists, and professionals alike. It is both a useful tool and an ideal hands-on learning application for those studying physics, astronomy, or engineering. Built on equations from Newtonian physics and Kepler's laws, OrbitSim uses a mathematical foundation to perform orbital calculations and generate realistic animations.

The Version 1.1 update has been automatically delivered to current OrbitSim HD owners on their iPad devices. OrbitSim HD is available on the iTunes App Store.

Atlanta, 12 June 2012 - Rocketback animation created for AFRL for the 2012 National Space Symposium.

The video shows a representative rocketback maneuver for a notional reusable booster stage (RBS) such as those currently under study at the Air Force Research Laboratory. The concept shown here is a generic RBS configuration.

This simulation is set at 3x actual speed.
Cleared for public release: 88ABW-2012-1982

Animated simulation created using Google Earth and FlightSight.
FlightSight converts trajectory path data into striking, 3D visual representations in a virtual globe.

Huntsville, May 22, 2012 - SpaceWorks Enterprises, Inc., has signed a new contract to support the Advanced Concepts Office at NASA's Marshall Space Flight Center in Huntsville, AL.

Under the terms of the new contract, SpaceWorks will assist the aerospace engineers in NASA's Advanced Concepts Office (ACO) with developing technical databases to support parametric analysis of future launch concepts for small payloads. SpaceWorks will support the activity with personnel from its Engineering Division in both Atlanta and Huntsville.

Washington, March 6, 2012 - SpaceWorks Commercial (a division of SpaceWorks Enterprises, Inc.) announces the approval of a Technical Assistance Agreement (TAA) to allow technical information exchange for the Air Launch System Enabling Technology (ALSET) research and development project from Japan. The United States Department of State Directorate of Defense Trade Controls (DDTC) has reviewed and approved the TAA between SpaceWorks Commercial and the Japanese team consisting of IHI AEROSPACE Co., Ltd. (IA), The Institute for Unmanned Space Experiment Free Flyer (USEF), and CSP Japan, Inc. (CSP-J). The agreement allows SpaceWorks Commercial to conduct technical information exchange to support ALSET by facilitating and managing U.S. based activities.

Under the TAA, SpaceWorks Commercial can provide unclassified technical data to facilitate a series of air-drop tests of an extraction system and inert rocket test article designed and manufactured by the Japanese team. The TAA allows SpaceWorks Commercial to coordinate the ALSET drop tests at a United States test range including arrangements for test support services, instrumentation hardware, the test range, and an air drop capable aircraft. This TAA will also allow SpaceWorks to assist the Japanese team in complying with range, aircraft, and overall system safety regulations

Atlanta, February 21, 2012 - SpaceWorks Software, a division of SpaceWorks Enterprises, Inc. (SEI) announces the release of OrbitSim HD, a new mobile application for the Apple iPad. Developed with both academic and professional audiences in mind, this app is perfect for any fan of astronomy, physics, and engineering.

OrbitSim is an orbital mechanics simulator designed to deliver a hands-on learning experience. The app harnesses the advanced touch gesture interface of the iPad, and allows users to effortlessly define and create elliptical orbits around any planet in our solar system, plot orbit transfers, play animations, and study detailed output data. OrbitSim users have the opportunity to experiment with three modes of operation: the basic two-body orbit, orbit circularization, and Hohmann transfer. Each of these modes presents a sleek and intuitive interface highlighted by striking artwork.

Atlanta, January 23, 2012 - SpaceWorks Enterprises, Inc., an Atlanta-based aerospace engineering design and analysis firm, announces the opening of a new field office in Huntsville, Alabama. The new office is scheduled to officially open its doors on February 1, 2012.

SpaceWorks' Huntsville field office will allow the firm to better serve its customers in the Huntsville-area, including NASA's Marshall Space Flight Center, the US Army Space and Missile Defense Command, the Missile Defense Agency, and many local prime contractors. The Huntsville office will be primarily affiliated with SpaceWorks Engineering, but will also provide support and services to clients of SpaceWorks Commercial and SpaceWorks Software.

Atlanta, December 5, 2011 - SpaceWorks Enterprises, Inc. makes a significant contribution to the 2011 NASA/DARPA Horizontal Launch Study. The study performed a comprehensive review of historical and proposed air-launch space access concepts in the range of 5,000 lb to 40,000 lb of payload to low Earth orbit. The year-long study was completed in December. It was a joint effort of several technical design organizations including NASA, DARPA, SpaceWorks, ACENT Technologies, McKinney and Associates, AMA, and the National Institute of Aerospace. SpaceWorks made contributions in the areas of concept design and analysis, technology evaluation and impact assessment, development of reference near-term flight test demo concepts, technical illustrations, and artistic visualization.

Washington, November 22, 2011 – SpaceWorks Commercial (a division of SpaceWorks Enterprises, Inc.) releases a new study highlighting increasing yearly demand for orbital launch services for the nanosatellite and microsatellite market. The study, entitled “Nano/Microsatellite Launch Market Assessment 2011” is a quantitative assessment of past launches and a projection of future launch demand up to 2020. Projections indicate more than 100 nano/micro satellites will need launches in the year 2020.

Study Link (SpaceWorks Commercial Nano/Microsatellite Launch Demand Assessment 2011): SpaceWorks_NanoMicrosat_Launch_22Nov2011_revA.pdf

Washington, October 25, 2011 – SpaceWorks Commercial (a division of SpaceWorks Enterprises, Inc.) announces the inauguration of Generation Orbit Launch Services, Inc., a new space business incubated in SpaceWorks Commercial’s FutureLab. Generation Orbit Launch Services, Inc. (Generation Orbit or GO) is an independently incorporated nanosatellite orbital payload delivery service company originally created within SpaceWorks Commercial. Generation Orbit was officially announced today at the 2011 Commercial and Government Responsive Access to Space Technology Exchange (CRASTE) conference being held in Atlanta, GA.

GO is developing a new United States-designed and operated nanosatellite (1-30 kg) launch system called GO Launcher, an air-launch rocket architecture composed of an existing, reusable high-speed aircraft launch platform and expendable rocket stages. GO Launcher will be designed to reduce the time it takes to get to space (under the mantra of "Your Orbit On Time") for the emerging field of nanosatellite customers.