Generation Orbit Launch Services

Generation Orbit Launch Services, Inc. (GO)
Private
Industry Aerospace
Founded Atlanta, Georgia
(April 25, 2011 (2011-04-25))
Headquarters Atlanta, Georgia
Key people
 John R. Olds, PhD
CEO
Brad St. Germain
CTO
A.J. Piplica
COO
Jordan Shulman
CFO
Products Dedicated Launch Service for Nanosatellites
Number of employees
 10+
Website www.generationorbit.com

Generation Orbit Launch Services, Inc. (GO) is an aerospace company developing a dedicated nanosatellite launch system that utilizes an air launch to orbit approach. GO was founded in April 2011 and is based in Atlanta, Georgia.

Overview

Generation Orbit (GO), based in Atlanta, GA, is currently developing an air launch system specifically for nanosatellites.[1][2][3][4] GO competed in the 2013 NewSpace Business Plan Competition (BPC), winning first place and the $100,000 prize.[5] The BPC was administered by the Space Frontier Foundation and held at Stanford University. In September 2013, GO was selected for NASA’s Enabling eXploration and Technology (NEXT) contract, with an award of $2.1 million.[6] Under NEXT, GO will launch a group of three 3U CubeSat payloads to a 425 km orbit. The launch is scheduled to take place in 2016.[7][8][9][10][11][12]

GO-FET (Flight Experiments Testbed)

GO-FET is a captive carry test platform for avionics, spacecraft hardware, fluids experiments, CubeSats, nanosats, and pre-release flight maneuver testing. The GO-FET configuration uses a Learjet 35 aircraft platform and was first flown on July 30, 2014.[13][14]

GOLauncher 1

GOLauncher 1 is an air launched single stage suborbital rocket vehicle. Its purpose is to provide access to high altitudes for microgravity, astrophysics, and hypersonics testing and research. The first two segments of the GOLauncher 1 Inert Test Article (GO1-ITA) underwent a series of successful structural ground tests at Mercer University’s Engineering Research Center (MERC) in December 2013.[15] In July, 2014, GO was awarded a Phase I Small Business Innovative Research (SBIR) contract from the Air Force Research Laboratory, Aerospace Systems Directorate (AFRL/RQ) for development of GOLauncher 1. The nine-month effort worth $150,000 will focus on requirements definition, configuration trade studies, and trajectory design space exploration.[16][17][18][19]

GOLauncher 2

GOLauncher 2 is an air launched two stage orbital rocket system. By combining a business jet with expendable rocket stages, GOLauncher 2 is capable of placing small payloads of up to 100 pounds into Low Earth Orbit. GOLauncher 2 successfully passed it Systems Requirements Review in January 2014, enabling GO to continue with the next phase of its development.

Partners

GO has partnered with the following organizations:

The combined experience of these companies covers a wide range of activities and development efforts, including, space systems design, life cycle cost analysis, business case development, upper stage development, testing, and manufacturing, and flight systems and ground operations.

References

  1. ↑ Dan Leone (2013-11-26). "Startup Generation Orbit Launch Service Bets Big on ‘Small Space’". Spacenews.com.
  2. ↑ Viacheslav Pronskyi (2013-11-27). "GENERATION ORBIT: BUSINESS PLAN THAT WON NASA-SPONSORED COMPETITION". Space Digest.
  3. ↑ Stewart Money (2013-02-20). "Smallsat Launch Industry Begins to Take Off". Innerspace.
  4. ↑ Ben Iannotta (2014). "2016 Could Bring Breakthrough for Small Satellites". AIAA.
  5. ↑ David Todd (2013-11-27). "Generation Orbit GOLauncher wins prize as latest contender for NASA cubesat launch contracts". Seradata.
  6. ↑ George H. Diller (2013-09-30). "NASA Awards First CubeSat-Class Launch Services Contract". NASA.
  7. ↑ "Generation Orbit Wins NASA Launch Contract". moonandback.com. 2013-10-01.
  8. ↑ Doug Messier (2013-09-30). "Generation Orbit Wins NASA Contract for Dedicated CubeSat Launch". Parabolic Arc.
  9. ↑ "Generation Orbit Awarded NASA Contract for Launch of GOLauncher 2". Georgia Tech. 2013-09-30.
  10. ↑ "NASA Awards CubeSat-class Launch Contract". ARRL. 2013-10-08.
  11. ↑ "V--NASA LAUNCH SERVICES ENABLING EXPLORATION AND TECHNOLOGY - NEXT". FedBizOpps.Gov. 2013-09-30.
  12. ↑ "Nanosats are go!". The Economist. 2014-06-07.
  13. ↑ Nate Monroe (2014-07-30). "Spaceport test flight is a giant leap for launch facility in Jacksonville". The Florida Times-Union.
  14. ↑ "Guest column: Cecil Airport is poised to become a player in space industry". The Florida Times-Union. 2014-09-11.
  15. ↑ "Structural Test Success With Generation Orbit". Mercer Engineering Research Center. 2014-02-14.
  16. ↑ "Air Launch Testbed for Endoatmospheric Hypersonic Trajectories". SBIR/STRR.
  17. ↑ "Generation Orbit Awarded Phase I SBIR with AFRL for GOLauncher 1 Hypersonic Testbed". Generation Orbit Press Release. 2014-07-09.
  18. ↑ "Generation Orbit Awarded SBIR Grant for GOLauncher 1 Hypersonic Testbed". Parabolic Arc. 2014-07-09.
  19. ↑ "Generation Orbit Awarded Phase I SBIR Grant". SpaceRef Business. 2014-07-09.
  20. ↑ Clark Lindsey (2013-07-22). "Generation Orbit and Air Force Research Laboratory sign R and D agreement". New Space Watch.
  21. ↑ "Generation Orbit Signs Investment Banking Agreement with The Inman Company". SpaceRef. 2014-02-12.
  22. ↑ "JAA, Generation Orbit Sign First Agreement at Cecil Spaceport". Business Wire. 2013-12-23.
  23. ↑ Caleb Henry (2013-12-27). "Generation Orbit Becomes Cecil Spaceport’s First Tenant". Via Satellite.
  24. ↑ Nate Monroe (2013-01-29). "State grant helps Cecil Spaceport prepare for launch". The Florida Times-Union.
  25. ↑ Frank DiBello (2013-10-24). "Guest column: Florida celebrates new generation of space flight". The Florida Times-Union.
  26. ↑ "JAA, Generation Orbit Sign First Agreement at Cecil Spaceport". Yahoo Finance. 2013-12-23.
  27. ↑ Tom Patton (2013-11-29). "Generation Orbit To Launch Small Satellites From Cecil Field in Jacksonville". JaxInSpace.
  28. ↑ "Jacksonville Aviation Authority Formally Signs First Spaceport Tenant: Generation Orbit Plans Test Flights From Northeast Florida's Cecil Spaceport In 2014". AERO News Network. 2013-12-27.

External links

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