Transforming Space Launch Range Operations Through Process Digitization
A major U.S. space launch range faced operational breakdown as manual onboarding, service coordination, and civil engineering workflows buckled under rising commercial launch demand. We designed and implemented an integrated digital system that reduced onboarding time by 75%, cut support inefficiencies by over $2M annually, and transformed siloed operations into a unified, data-driven ecosystem—becoming the operational backbone for a record-setting 40+ launches in one year.
The Challenge
A major national space launch range faced unprecedented growth challenges as commercial space companies rapidly increased launch cadence. The legacy systems for managing launch provider onboarding, range service provisioning, and civil engineering workflows relied heavily on basic Microsoft tools and manual processes that had evolved haphazardly over decades.
When we began the engagement, the range was struggling with several critical issues:
The existing onboarding process for Launch Service Providers (LSPs) was entirely manual, requiring dozens of email exchanges, physical paperwork, and in-person meetings to coordinate. The average time to process a new launch provider was 4-6 months, creating a significant bottleneck as commercial launch cadence increased.
Range Service Providers (RSPs) lacked visibility into upcoming support requirements, leading to inefficient resource allocation and occasional service conflicts. The civil engineering workflows necessary for facility modifications and infrastructure support were disconnected from the operational tempo, creating delays in critical path items.
Most concerning was the complete absence of instrumentation within these processes. Leadership had no reliable metrics on process performance, bottlenecks, or capacity utilization. With launch cadence projected to triple within 18 months, the existing system was facing imminent failure.
After successfully delivering two smaller projects that demonstrated our capabilities—a rocket dispersion modeling application and a weather analytics system—the client extended our contract to tackle this more fundamental operational challenge.
Adjective's Approach
Rather than simply digitizing existing processes, we recognized an opportunity to fundamentally transform how the launch range operated. We began by embedding with the range operations team, conducting extensive interviews with all stakeholders: Range Operations Commanders, Launch Service Providers, Range Service Providers, Safety Officials, and Civil Engineering teams.
This research revealed that the core issue wasn't just technological but organizational. The various stakeholders operated in silos, with inconsistent communication patterns and limited visibility into each other's constraints and requirements. The solution would need to do more than replace paperwork—it needed to foster collaboration while maintaining the rigorous safety standards essential to range operations.
We partnered directly with the government and coached their program managers on product management principles adaptable to their environment. Together, we developed a comprehensive digital transformation strategy that prioritized both short-term operational improvements and long-term capability enhancements.
Working with a cross-functional team, we designed a unified Space Launch Range Process Management system that would integrate the three primary workflows:
Launch Service Provider Onboarding: A guided digital workflow that standardized the information collection process, provided clear visibility into approval status, and automated notifications and documentation generation.
Range Service Provider Coordination: A centralized platform where service requirements could be requested, scheduled, and confirmed with full transparency across all stakeholders.
Civil Engineering Integration: A system that connected facility modification requests and infrastructure requirements directly to the operational planning process.
The technical implementation utilized React JS, Node JS, Express JS, and PostgreSQL, all hardened with security controls and accredited via the Space Force's custom Kubernetes platform leveraging VMware Tanzu. Throughout the development process, we facilitated regular feedback sessions with all stakeholder groups, ensuring the solution addressed their unique needs while promoting cross-functional collaboration.
The Results
The impact of the digital transformation extended far beyond the technology itself. Within six months of implementation, the Space Launch Range Process Management system delivered remarkable improvements:
The onboarding time for new Launch Service Providers decreased from 4-6 months to just 32 days on average—an improvement of over 75%. This acceleration directly supported the range's ability to accommodate increased launch cadence without expanding staff.
Range Service Providers reported a 63% reduction in last-minute support requests, allowing for more efficient resource allocation and reducing overtime costs by approximately $2.3M annually.
Civil Engineering workflows that previously took 90+ days to complete were now being executed in under 40 days, ensuring that infrastructure modifications kept pace with operational requirements.
Most significantly, the instrumentation built into the system provided leadership with unprecedented visibility into process performance. Custom dashboards revealed bottlenecks, capacity constraints, and efficiency opportunities that had previously been hidden in email exchanges and spreadsheets.
The initial contract value of $3.2M was extended to nearly $10M as additional capabilities were identified and implemented. The system became the operational backbone of the range, supporting the successful execution of over 40 launches in the year following implementation—a record for the facility.
The Transformation
Beyond the metrics, this project fundamentally transformed how the launch range operated. What had been a collection of disconnected processes evolved into an integrated, transparent ecosystem where all stakeholders shared a common operating picture.
Launch Service Providers, once frustrated by opaque and unpredictable processes, now had clear visibility into their onboarding status and requirements. Range Service Providers could forecast resource needs weeks in advance, improving both efficiency and job satisfaction. Civil Engineering teams became true partners in the launch process, with their work properly integrated into the operational tempo.
Range leadership gained the data-driven insights needed to make strategic decisions about capacity expansion, process improvements, and resource allocation. When an unexpected surge in launch demand occurred, they could rapidly identify bottlenecks and implement targeted improvements rather than simply adding more personnel.
The system's success led to its adoption as a model for other space launch facilities facing similar growth challenges. What began as a process digitization project evolved into a comprehensive transformation of how space launch operations are managed, balancing the rigorous safety requirements of rocket launches with the efficiency demands of a rapidly growing commercial space industry.
This engagement exemplifies how thoughtful digital transformation can do more than improve processes—it can fundamentally reimagine how complex operations function in high-stakes environments. By combining deep domain expertise with modern digital product development approaches, we created a solution that supported not just current operations but enabled the future growth of a critical national capability.