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With solutions tailored to fit every workflow, we provide our customers with any support necessary for getting their mission off the ground.

Services

Ground System Operations & Engineering

Mission Readiness

Systems Engineering

Software Engineering

Technical Training

Control Center Development

Operations Assessments

Products

OrbitCmd®

Satellite Operator Training Course

Making a Difference · Making a Difference · 
Making a Difference · Making a Difference · 
On and Off the Planet

Portfolio

LunaH-Map

Qwaltec worked with Arizona State University to develop and operate the LunaH-Map CubeSat Ground System. Our support and efforts relieved the science team's operations burden, allowing them to focus on their data.

LunaH-Map

Qwaltec worked with Arizona State University to develop and operate the LunaH-Map CubeSat Ground System. Our support and efforts relieved the science team's operations burden, allowing them to focus on their data.

LunaH-Map

Qwaltec worked with Arizona State University to develop and operate the LunaH-Map CubeSat Ground System. Our support and efforts relieved the science team's operations burden, allowing them to focus on their data.

LunaH-Map

Qwaltec worked with Arizona State University to develop and operate the LunaH-Map CubeSat Ground System. Our support and efforts relieved the science team's operations burden, allowing them to focus on their data.

LunaH-Map

Qwaltec worked with Arizona State University to develop and operate the LunaH-Map CubeSat Ground System. Our support and efforts relieved the science team's operations burden, allowing them to focus on their data.

LunaH-Map

Qwaltec worked with Arizona State University to develop and operate the LunaH-Map CubeSat Ground System. Our support and efforts relieved the science team's operations burden, allowing them to focus on their data.

LunaH-Map

Qwaltec worked with Arizona State University to develop and operate the LunaH-Map CubeSat Ground System. Our support and efforts relieved the science team's operations burden, allowing them to focus on their data.

LunaH-Map

Qwaltec worked with Arizona State University to develop and operate the LunaH-Map CubeSat Ground System. Our support and efforts relieved the science team's operations burden, allowing them to focus on their data.

Healthcare Operations Center

Working with industry-leading healthcare professionals, Qwaltec applied NASA-style Mission Control Center operations concepts to hospital operations. The HOC utilizes a systems engineering approach and human factors to expand the paradigm in healthcare operations.

Healthcare Operations Center

Working with industry-leading healthcare professionals, Qwaltec applied NASA-style Mission Control Center operations concepts to hospital operations. The HOC utilizes a systems engineering approach and human factors to expand the paradigm in healthcare operations.

Healthcare Operations Center

Working with industry-leading healthcare professionals, Qwaltec applied NASA-style Mission Control Center operations concepts to hospital operations. The HOC utilizes a systems engineering approach and human factors to expand the paradigm in healthcare operations.

Healthcare Operations Center

Working with industry-leading healthcare professionals, Qwaltec applied NASA-style Mission Control Center operations concepts to hospital operations. The HOC utilizes a systems engineering approach and human factors to expand the paradigm in healthcare operations.

Healthcare Operations Center

Working with industry-leading healthcare professionals, Qwaltec applied NASA-style Mission Control Center operations concepts to hospital operations. The HOC utilizes a systems engineering approach and human factors to expand the paradigm in healthcare operations.

Healthcare Operations Center

Working with industry-leading healthcare professionals, Qwaltec applied NASA-style Mission Control Center operations concepts to hospital operations. The HOC utilizes a systems engineering approach and human factors to expand the paradigm in healthcare operations.

Healthcare Operations Center

Working with industry-leading healthcare professionals, Qwaltec applied NASA-style Mission Control Center operations concepts to hospital operations. The HOC utilizes a systems engineering approach and human factors to expand the paradigm in healthcare operations.

Healthcare Operations Center

Working with industry-leading healthcare professionals, Qwaltec applied NASA-style Mission Control Center operations concepts to hospital operations. The HOC utilizes a systems engineering approach and human factors to expand the paradigm in healthcare operations.

Mega-Constellation Operations Training

Qwaltec produced and executed custom training for dozens of OneWeb satellite network operators and site antenna installers to prepare for first launch. Our scalable training expertise prepared the OneWeb team to successfully test and expand the mega-constellation.

Mega-Constellation Operations Training

Qwaltec produced and executed custom training for dozens of OneWeb satellite network operators and site antenna installers to prepare for first launch. Our scalable training expertise prepared the OneWeb team to successfully test and expand the mega-constellation.

Mega-Constellation Operations Training

Qwaltec produced and executed custom training for dozens of OneWeb satellite network operators and site antenna installers to prepare for first launch. Our scalable training expertise prepared the OneWeb team to successfully test and expand the mega-constellation.

Mega-Constellation Operations Training

Qwaltec produced and executed custom training for dozens of OneWeb satellite network operators and site antenna installers to prepare for first launch. Our scalable training expertise prepared the OneWeb team to successfully test and expand the mega-constellation.

Mega-Constellation Operations Training

Qwaltec produced and executed custom training for dozens of OneWeb satellite network operators and site antenna installers to prepare for first launch. Our scalable training expertise prepared the OneWeb team to successfully test and expand the mega-constellation.

Mega-Constellation Operations Training

Qwaltec produced and executed custom training for dozens of OneWeb satellite network operators and site antenna installers to prepare for first launch. Our scalable training expertise prepared the OneWeb team to successfully test and expand the mega-constellation.

Mega-Constellation Operations Training

Qwaltec produced and executed custom training for dozens of OneWeb satellite network operators and site antenna installers to prepare for first launch. Our scalable training expertise prepared the OneWeb team to successfully test and expand the mega-constellation.

Mega-Constellation Operations Training

Qwaltec produced and executed custom training for dozens of OneWeb satellite network operators and site antenna installers to prepare for first launch. Our scalable training expertise prepared the OneWeb team to successfully test and expand the mega-constellation.

Air-launch Platform MCC

Qwaltec developed and assembled a custom Mission Control Center (MCC) for the inaugural Stratolaunch engine test. We provided full support capabilities under a tight timeline, ensuring test readiness and operational success.

Air-launch Platform MCC

Qwaltec developed and assembled a custom Mission Control Center (MCC) for the inaugural Stratolaunch engine test. We provided full support capabilities under a tight timeline, ensuring test readiness and operational success.

Air-launch Platform MCC

Qwaltec developed and assembled a custom Mission Control Center (MCC) for the inaugural Stratolaunch engine test. We provided full support capabilities under a tight timeline, ensuring test readiness and operational success.

Air-launch Platform MCC

Qwaltec developed and assembled a custom Mission Control Center (MCC) for the inaugural Stratolaunch engine test. We provided full support capabilities under a tight timeline, ensuring test readiness and operational success.

Air-launch Platform MCC

Qwaltec developed and assembled a custom Mission Control Center (MCC) for the inaugural Stratolaunch engine test. We provided full support capabilities under a tight timeline, ensuring test readiness and operational success.

Air-launch Platform MCC

Qwaltec developed and assembled a custom Mission Control Center (MCC) for the inaugural Stratolaunch engine test. We provided full support capabilities under a tight timeline, ensuring test readiness and operational success.

Air-launch Platform MCC

Qwaltec developed and assembled a custom Mission Control Center (MCC) for the inaugural Stratolaunch engine test. We provided full support capabilities under a tight timeline, ensuring test readiness and operational success.

Air-launch Platform MCC

Qwaltec developed and assembled a custom Mission Control Center (MCC) for the inaugural Stratolaunch engine test. We provided full support capabilities under a tight timeline, ensuring test readiness and operational success.

Ground System Validation & Verification

Qwaltec provides continuous support and health verification of a fleet of essential national weather satellites for first responders, agriculture, fishing, and the general public. Our work ensures the consistent health of the satellites and protects against any issues caused by ground system changes.

Ground System Validation & Verification

Qwaltec provides continuous support and health verification of a fleet of essential national weather satellites for first responders, agriculture, fishing, and the general public. Our work ensures the consistent health of the satellites and protects against any issues caused by ground system changes.

Ground System Validation & Verification

Qwaltec provides continuous support and health verification of a fleet of essential national weather satellites for first responders, agriculture, fishing, and the general public. Our work ensures the consistent health of the satellites and protects against any issues caused by ground system changes.

Ground System Validation & Verification

Qwaltec provides continuous support and health verification of a fleet of essential national weather satellites for first responders, agriculture, fishing, and the general public. Our work ensures the consistent health of the satellites and protects against any issues caused by ground system changes.

Ground System Validation & Verification

Qwaltec provides continuous support and health verification of a fleet of essential national weather satellites for first responders, agriculture, fishing, and the general public. Our work ensures the consistent health of the satellites and protects against any issues caused by ground system changes.

Ground System Validation & Verification

Qwaltec provides continuous support and health verification of a fleet of essential national weather satellites for first responders, agriculture, fishing, and the general public. Our work ensures the consistent health of the satellites and protects against any issues caused by ground system changes.

Ground System Validation & Verification

Qwaltec provides continuous support and health verification of a fleet of essential national weather satellites for first responders, agriculture, fishing, and the general public. Our work ensures the consistent health of the satellites and protects against any issues caused by ground system changes.

Ground System Validation & Verification

Qwaltec provides continuous support and health verification of a fleet of essential national weather satellites for first responders, agriculture, fishing, and the general public. Our work ensures the consistent health of the satellites and protects against any issues caused by ground system changes.

NASA Space Network Training

Qwaltec created and conducted training to aid the transition from legacy to modern operations for NASA Tracking and Data Relay Satellites (TDRS). We prepared legacy operators for a seamless progression to the updated ground segment.

NASA Space Network Training

Qwaltec created and conducted training to aid the transition from legacy to modern operations for NASA Tracking and Data Relay Satellites (TDRS). We prepared legacy operators for a seamless progression to the updated ground segment.

NASA Space Network Training

Qwaltec created and conducted training to aid the transition from legacy to modern operations for NASA Tracking and Data Relay Satellites (TDRS). We prepared legacy operators for a seamless progression to the updated ground segment.

NASA Space Network Training

Qwaltec created and conducted training to aid the transition from legacy to modern operations for NASA Tracking and Data Relay Satellites (TDRS). We prepared legacy operators for a seamless progression to the updated ground segment.

NASA Space Network Training

Qwaltec created and conducted training to aid the transition from legacy to modern operations for NASA Tracking and Data Relay Satellites (TDRS). We prepared legacy operators for a seamless progression to the updated ground segment.

NASA Space Network Training

Qwaltec created and conducted training to aid the transition from legacy to modern operations for NASA Tracking and Data Relay Satellites (TDRS). We prepared legacy operators for a seamless progression to the updated ground segment.

NASA Space Network Training

Qwaltec created and conducted training to aid the transition from legacy to modern operations for NASA Tracking and Data Relay Satellites (TDRS). We prepared legacy operators for a seamless progression to the updated ground segment.

NASA Space Network Training

Qwaltec created and conducted training to aid the transition from legacy to modern operations for NASA Tracking and Data Relay Satellites (TDRS). We prepared legacy operators for a seamless progression to the updated ground segment.

UAS Command and Control Center

Qwaltec supported the warfighter by delivering and continually developing enhancements and operations products for Unmanned Aerial System (UAS) control centers worldwide. We backed full life-cycle control center development and upgrades for our customer, ensuring mission success.

UAS Command and Control Center

Qwaltec supported the warfighter by delivering and continually developing enhancements and operations products for Unmanned Aerial System (UAS) control centers worldwide. We backed full life-cycle control center development and upgrades for our customer, ensuring mission success.

UAS Command and Control Center

Qwaltec supported the warfighter by delivering and continually developing enhancements and operations products for Unmanned Aerial System (UAS) control centers worldwide. We backed full life-cycle control center development and upgrades for our customer, ensuring mission success.

UAS Command and Control Center

Qwaltec supported the warfighter by delivering and continually developing enhancements and operations products for Unmanned Aerial System (UAS) control centers worldwide. We backed full life-cycle control center development and upgrades for our customer, ensuring mission success.

UAS Command and Control Center

Qwaltec supported the warfighter by delivering and continually developing enhancements and operations products for Unmanned Aerial System (UAS) control centers worldwide. We backed full life-cycle control center development and upgrades for our customer, ensuring mission success.

UAS Command and Control Center

Qwaltec supported the warfighter by delivering and continually developing enhancements and operations products for Unmanned Aerial System (UAS) control centers worldwide. We backed full life-cycle control center development and upgrades for our customer, ensuring mission success.

UAS Command and Control Center

Qwaltec supported the warfighter by delivering and continually developing enhancements and operations products for Unmanned Aerial System (UAS) control centers worldwide. We backed full life-cycle control center development and upgrades for our customer, ensuring mission success.

UAS Command and Control Center

Qwaltec supported the warfighter by delivering and continually developing enhancements and operations products for Unmanned Aerial System (UAS) control centers worldwide. We backed full life-cycle control center development and upgrades for our customer, ensuring mission success.

Automated Satellite Commanding

Working with the United States Space Force, we automated pass plans for a legacy system by creating a new scripting language built by satellite operators for satellite operators. Our solution is utilized and modified by operations personnel and designed with operator expertise in mind.

Automated Satellite Commanding

Working with the United States Space Force, we automated pass plans for a legacy system by creating a new scripting language built by satellite operators for satellite operators. Our solution is utilized and modified by operations personnel and designed with operator expertise in mind.

Automated Satellite Commanding

Working with the United States Space Force, we automated pass plans for a legacy system by creating a new scripting language built by satellite operators for satellite operators. Our solution is utilized and modified by operations personnel and designed with operator expertise in mind.

Automated Satellite Commanding

Working with the United States Space Force, we automated pass plans for a legacy system by creating a new scripting language built by satellite operators for satellite operators. Our solution is utilized and modified by operations personnel and designed with operator expertise in mind.

Automated Satellite Commanding

Working with the United States Space Force, we automated pass plans for a legacy system by creating a new scripting language built by satellite operators for satellite operators. Our solution is utilized and modified by operations personnel and designed with operator expertise in mind.

Automated Satellite Commanding

Working with the United States Space Force, we automated pass plans for a legacy system by creating a new scripting language built by satellite operators for satellite operators. Our solution is utilized and modified by operations personnel and designed with operator expertise in mind.

Automated Satellite Commanding

Working with the United States Space Force, we automated pass plans for a legacy system by creating a new scripting language built by satellite operators for satellite operators. Our solution is utilized and modified by operations personnel and designed with operator expertise in mind.

Automated Satellite Commanding

Working with the United States Space Force, we automated pass plans for a legacy system by creating a new scripting language built by satellite operators for satellite operators. Our solution is utilized and modified by operations personnel and designed with operator expertise in mind.

Who is Qwaltec

Founded in 2001, Qwaltec offers end-to-end mission operations services. From system architecture to ground systems engineering to system integration to spacecraft operations, we offer end-to-end support for your mission.

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satellite in space

Careers

Qwaltec is always looking for talented individuals to join our team.

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Interested in joining our team? Click "Apply Now" to view open positions and submit an application.

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Measurable results · Measurable results · 
Measurable results · Measurable results · 
Tailored Services
LunaH-Map
Customer Need

In collaboration with Arizona State University for their LunaH-Map mission, Qwaltec developed and operated a comprehensive ground system for the interdisciplinary CubeSat designed to map hydrogen content on the lunar south pole using a miniaturized neutron spectrometer. We participated throughout the entire mission life-cycle, from development to all phases of operations, optimizing mission success for the Principal Investigator and the LunaH-Map team.

Our Approach

During mission design and development, our team took each task in stride, from architecting a custom mission control center, developing telemetry and commanding dictionaries and databases, crafting operational scripts, and optimizing automation. The team customized NASA’s Ammos Instrument Toolkit (AIT) for real-time data streaming, Grafana for graphical telemetry dashboards, and other GUI open-source products for the unique needs of the LunaH-Map Telemetry, Tracking, and Control (TT&C) System. We automated scripts to ensure the satellite received the correct commands at the proper time to execute position, data collection, and data downlink tasks. Our approach to automating the command script for maneuvers reduced a maneuver that was originally a two-week process down to two hours. These efforts created efficiencies that saved time and money, removed the opportunity for human error, and enabled successful mission execution.

Our automation and operations tools were put to the test in Mission Rehearsals. As both the operational tool developers and operators, we verified each step's success via simulation and optimized our execution, scripts, and automation accordingly.  This unique, full-service DevOps approach streamlined the system and facilitated operational success.

Key Results

On November 16, 2022, LunaH-Map launched on the Artemis I mission, and the first contact with the CubeSat was picture-perfect. When a prolonged time sitting on the launch pad resulted in LunaH-Map's propulsion system experiencing an anomaly, our team assessed the issue and created a new automation to simulate commands before sending them to the in-flight hardware. Although this anomaly shortened the mission timeline, LunaH-Map's miniaturized neutron spectrometer successfully mapped the hydrogen content on the moon’s shadowed pole. Qwaltec provided seamless ground support throughout its entire life cycle.

Customer Testimonial

I am pleased to provide this testimonial for Qwaltec based on their outstanding work on the LunaH-Map and Lunar-VISE missions. Qwaltec played a critical role in assisting Arizona State University in establishing a mission operations center, which was fundamental to the success of our mission. The LunaH-Map mission, in particular, would not have been successful without Qwaltec's partnership.

Qwaltec's team was incredibly responsive to our evolving mission needs and demands. They were always available to assist and provide answers to our questions regarding mission operations, ground software, and spacecraft testing. Their technical support was crucial in ensuring that our projects ran smoothly and efficiently.

Working with Qwaltec has been a highly positive experience. Their team members are not only highly skilled but also communicative and proactive. They created a collaborative environment that facilitated seamless integration of our efforts, ensuring that our objectives were met with precision and efficiency.

Qwaltec's technical acumen is truly commendable. Their innovative approach to solving complex problems and their ability to implement cutting-edge solutions were key to the success of the LunaH-Map and Lunar-VISE missions. Their expertise has consistently exceeded our expectations, delivering results that have significantly advanced our projects.

In summary, Qwaltec's exceptional technical support, collaborative efforts, and technical expertise make them an invaluable partner. I highly recommend their services to any organization seeking a reliable and innovative technical partner.

Craig Hardgrove
ASU Principal Investigator
Previous
Mega-Constellation Operations Training
Healthcare Operations Center
Customer Need

In our communities’ hospitals and healthcare centers, operations have not yet embraced systems engineering and human factors to the same extent as the space industry. Qwaltec, leveraging NASA Mission Control Center technology, has worked with several leading hospitals, including Stanford Medicine, Lucile Packard Children’s Hospital, and the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia (CHOP), to streamline hospital operations into an innovative Hospital Operations Center (HOC) concept.

Our Approach

Qwaltec engineers collaborated closely with key subject matter experts from Stanford Medicine and CHOP to refine the HOC initial design to align with the hospitals' operational needs. As part of the initial design efforts, Qwaltec engineers examined the communication requirements for existing medical devices, performed trade studies on software packages that provide needed functionality, and investigated the rules and regulations that are part of data security for the healthcare industry. Our approach utilized the following overall goals:

  • Leverage NASA Mission Control Center technology
  • Provide accurate, timely, actionable data to the people who need it
  • Provide healthcare providers with unsurpassed situational awareness
  • Minimize administrative and overhead burden from healthcare providers, allowing them to focus on patient care
  • Enhance the patient experience
  • Save the hospital money due to efficiency-driven increases in patient services
Key Results

Qwaltec’s paradigm-shifting approach to hospital operations has captured the attention of doctors and hospital administrators throughout the industry, resulting in a proposed proof-of-concept study by Lucile Packard Children’s Hospital.

Customer Testimonial
Previous
LunaH-Map
Mega-Constellation Operations Training
Customer Need

OneWeb is one of the leading new mega-constellations vying to provide global internet from Low Earth Orbit (LEO). Quality and thorough training were paramount to successfully operating this immense network. While the system was being built, Qwaltec developed a fleet operations training plan, positional task analyses, training and qualification requirements, and a training flow to meet their planned launch cadence. In addition, our team created training for the OneWeb network operators and site antenna installers.

Our Approach

The OneWeb training program pushed the envelope of efficiency and effectiveness to support the surge in personnel hiring for this massive constellation and rapid launch campaign. Qwaltec’s training program qualified new hires to support on-console crew operations within one month of onboarding.

To meet these aggressive objectives, the training team utilized a robust Learning Management System (LMS), online training modules, hands-on training, rapid integration of available vendor and commercial training, and rapidly deployed updates to support ongoing system evolution.

Qwaltec conducted an extensive trade study and selected the optimum LMS, which it configured and populated with all of the training content to support the hiring surge.

We designed the OneWeb training program to accomplish the following goals:

  • Train students on spacecraft systems, subsystems, and components for a mega-constellation
  • Train students on spacecraft, ground, and mega-constellation operations, maintenance, internal and external system interfaces, and execution activities
  • Provide personnel with a comprehensive understanding of operational procedures, COTS tools, and custom software
  • Provide an operational understanding of how the various systems and subsystems work together to accomplish the mission
  • Align with the launch campaign to support a seamless transition from the development phase to steady-state operations

‍

Leading up to first launch, Qwaltec directed simulations for ten multi-day rehearsals, each consisting of up to 150 people. Following first launch, Qwaltec planned and conducted additional rehearsals for subsequent production launches, encompassing dozens of satellites each.

Key Results

Our team’s training execution for OneWeb flight and ground teams resulted in successful operations for first launch and beyond. Qwaltec’s unique experience training mission operations for NASA, DoD, and commercial constellations is scalable for programs of any size.

Customer Testimonial
Previous
Ground System Validation & Verification
Air-launch Platform MCC
Customer Need

Stratolaunch developed the world’s largest plane to launch payloads more efficiently—bypassing many ground-launch issues—with the goal of simplifying access to space. Qwaltec worked with Stratolaunch to develop and integrate a fully functioning Mission Control Center (MCC), starting with the Carrier Aircraft Ground and Flight Test phase.

Our Approach

Using our extensive experience with commercial, civil, and DoD space operations, Qwaltec developed and integrated a fully functioning Stratolaunch MCC. We installed and built the operations center, including workstations, video displays, and communication controls. After configuration, we conducted thorough testing and validation to ensure data flows, mission connectivity, voice communications, and critical commands were operational. Finally, we created user documentation and procedures for turnkey operations and provided engineering, design, and analytic support services. Additionally we performed the following services:

  • Development of Concepts of Operations for each mission phase 
  • Identification of requirements and peer reviews for hardware, software, and network connectivity, including security requirements 
  • Conduction of trade studies for sources of equipment and qualified vendors 
  • Coordination of MCC and network integration into the Stratolaunch facility 
  • Installation, integration, configuration, and testing of MCC Operator workstations, including display systems, video controls, and mission clock needs 
  • Development of Control Center procedures and user documentation 
  • Testing and validation (including, but not limited to network [SL1] [AG2] data flows, aircraft network flows, aircraft satellite communication flows, aircraft to Quintron system flows, voice communications, commanding sequences, etc.)
  • Development of user training and documentation
Key Results

Qwaltec worked with Stratolaunch engineers and vendors to facilitate the development and build of a fully functioning MCC within six months, resulting in full support capabilities of the Phase I Stratolaunch tests.

Customer Testimonial
Previous
Healthcare Operations Center
Ground System Validation & Verification
Customer Need

Our government customer operates a fleet of national space weather assets critical to emergency responders, agriculture and fishing industries, and the general public. These assets are Low Earth Polar Orbiting weather satellites and require validation of all ground system software changes—from bug fixes to major enhancements (or “builds”)—before moving the software into operational production. Software validation is critical to mitigating and minimizing any risk to the spacecraft's health and safety. We roll out builds approximately every three months, requiring a near-constant validation effort before deployment to ensure uninterrupted critical data streams to the American public and emergency responders.

Our Approach

Qwaltec crafts and utilizes test plans to check every critical functionality needed to operate the mission comprehensively. When errors and issues are identified, the Qwaltec team documents those details, along with the inherent impacts on scientific operations and/or the health and safety of the spacecraft. The government customer uses those findings to determine the next steps for the software developer. One specific example of a potentially mission-damaging issue the Qwaltec team identified during functionality testing was the malfunction of an encryption key. With the team’s intervention and escalation to the customer, this issue was addressed and corrected, and the risk was mitigated.

Our team also creates Discrepancy Reports (DRs) for each issue/error and diligently tracks the ticket, following the customer’s decisions for the next steps. This includes constant engagement with the developer to resolve the issue/error and repeating the functionality test to verify satisfactory resolution; we ensure that issues/errors in the ground system do not adversely impact mission success.

Additionally, Qwaltec’s team improves transparency for both the customer and the operators. For example, we developed a situational awareness dashboard, allowing the customer and on-console operators to easily track real-time spacecraft data being collected.

Key Results

Qwaltec's Ground System Validation and Verification services provide assurance for the health and status of national weather satellites while keeping the assets safe from damages caused by ground system changes.

Customer Testimonial
Previous
NASA Space Network Training
NASA Space Network Training
Customer Need

To operate its fleet of Tracking and Data Relay Satellites (TDRS) more effectively, NASA had plans to phase in a new ground system at the White Sands Complex near Las Cruces, New Mexico. Updating old equipment from the 1990s, included a new computer architecture, digital signaling, and new command and control, planning, and operations software. On-console flight controllers and maintenance and operations personnel required extensive training on the new system without affecting critical operations using legacy equipment.

Our Approach

Qwaltec designed, developed, and delivered training, which included classroom, online, and hands-on products. The program focused on preparing operations personnel to operate and maintain the Space Network and TDRS satellites using the new system without impacting ongoing legacy operations.

Qwaltec designed the training program to accomplish the following goals:

  • Train students on newly deployed hardware, firmware, and software, as well as modifications to existing systems
  • Train students on operations, maintenance, system interfaces, and transition activities
  • Provide personnel with a comprehensive understanding of operational, diagnostic, maintenance, contingency, and anomaly response procedures
  • Provide an operational understanding of how the various systems and subsystems work together
  • Identify hazards and operational constraints that result from safety assessments
  • Align with deployment and transition activities, supporting a seamless transition from legacy ground system operations to SGSS operations

‍

Qwaltec designed the training program for five unique, real-time operations positions and 13 unique engineering support positions. Our team created 204 hours of classroom content, 79 hours of online content, and 172 hours of hands-on content. Qwaltec was responsible for executing this training through an integrated team of instructors, as well as simulation exercises using multiple simulators and emulators.

Key Results

Despite multiple redesigns and a pause to the roll out of the upgraded system, we prepared operations personnel to operate the new system seamlessly. Qwaltec’s team of engineers and highly experienced mission operations personnel are ready to translate software and complex systems into accessible, understandable training requirements for any satellite program.

Customer Testimonial
Previous
Automated Satellite Commanding
UAS Command and Control Center
Customer Need

Qwaltec has over a decade of experience working with Unmanned Aerial System (UAS) deployable command and control centers in high-tempo, dynamic-schedule environments. Our customer tasked Qwaltec with developing user interfaces and back-end services, performing on-site software integration, installing and checking software components, and evaluating pending software changes.

Our Approach

Qwaltec software engineers performed the following activities:

  • Worked intimately with the customer regarding the development of functional requirements and supporting the full development cycle on extensions to the system
  • Developed UAS ground station application software requiring knowledge and familiarity with command and control systems, situational awareness, real-time systems, enterprise systems, mission planning, and data exploitation 
  • Developed capabilities including navigation, touch-based user interfaces, heads-up displays, full motion video, video streaming, sensors, data link, and Line of Sight (LOS) / Beyond Line of Sight (BLOS) communication network visualization 
  • Designed and coded user human-machine interfaces (HMI) and graphical user interfaces (GUI) per customer specifications to provide control of and display status of vehicles and payloads
  • Designed and developed complex, highly configurable real-time client/server software running on both Windows and Linux-based operating systems designed for communication with remote devices or vehicles
  • Performed application tuning, memory leak elimination, and overall application optimization
  • Oversaw software release content using ClearQuest and other discrepancy and version management applications

Qwaltec’s operational support for the UAS customer also included operator and maintainer training, technical user documentation, requirements management, integration, and formal testing.

Key Results

Qwaltec, working with our customer and the government organization, supported the warfighter by delivering and continually developing enhancements and operations products for UAS control centers worldwide.

Customer Testimonial
Previous
Air-launch Platform MCC
Automated Satellite Commanding
Customer Need

Qwaltec provides on-orbit engineering support for a United States Space Force (USSF) fleet of communications satellites. To automate many of the satellite operator tasks for the fleet, the ground system provider developed a set of perform files or scripts that replicated the steps taken in pass plans. Written by software developers, these scripts required a significant learning curve for the satellite operators to use and troubleshoot. In addition, the scripts did not account for nuances and unique characteristics of the satellites that the operators understand well. As a result, the scripts often failed during testing without notification to the operators. When script fails go undetected, satellite responses often fail, prohibiting the use of the ground system provider scripts for on-orbit operations. Our team was asked to create scripts that account for the specific characteristics of the fleet.

Our Approach

Qwaltec’s engineers utilized their expertise in satellite operations, software development, and the fleet’s ground system to create a pass plan automation solution for both static and dynamic satellite tasking. As part of the solution, they created a straightforward, “non-coding” nomenclature scripting language requiring no operator learning curve. In other words, an “operator language” scripting language. Rather than simply automating a pass plan, the software accounts for the unique operations requirements of the space environment, as well as provides operators with the notifications they need during expected and unexpected command and telemetry responses. It’s satellite automation software developed by satellite operators.

Key Results

Qwaltec’s pass plan automation software has a reliability rate of 99.3%. Over 12 months, it successfully completed 93.4% of tasks without crew intervention. When human intervention was needed, it was primarily due to issues external to the automation software. When needed, the script-controlled execution allows for the modification/addition of task lists without requiring code changes. Anyone on the ops team with little to no training can read it.  The software can even handle some configuration changes without creating a new task list template, providing the ability to make changes more responsively and without dependence on programmers.

The Qwaltec team’s pass plan automation tool was so successful that a critical new joint forces fleet of communications spacecraft asked them to provide the automation solution. Qwaltec’s experience in understanding the tasks requiring automation enabled successful development and implementation. With a thorough understanding of the Telemetry and Commanding software API, Qwaltec’s pass plan automation architecture is repeatable on any ground system.

Customer Testimonial
Previous
UAS Command and Control Center
Operations Assessments
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Control Center Development
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Technical Training
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Software Engineering
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Systems Engineering
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Mission Readiness
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Ground System Operations & Engineering
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Operations Assessments
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Control Center Development
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Technical Training
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Software Engineering
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Systems Engineering
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Mission Readiness
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Ground System Operations & Engineering
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Operations Assessments
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Control Center Development
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Technical Training
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Software Engineering
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Systems Engineering
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Mission Readiness
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Ground System Operations & Engineering
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Operations Assessments
|
Control Center Development
|
Technical Training
|
Software Engineering
|
Systems Engineering
|
Mission Readiness
|
Ground System Operations & Engineering
|
Operations Assessments
|
Control Center Development
|
Technical Training
|
Software Engineering
|
Systems Engineering
|
Mission Readiness
|
Ground System Operations & Engineering
|
Operations Assessments
|
Control Center Development
|
Technical Training
|
Software Engineering
|
Systems Engineering
|
Mission Readiness
|
Ground System Operations & Engineering
|
Operations Assessments
|
Control Center Development
|
Technical Training
|
Software Engineering
|
Systems Engineering
|
Mission Readiness
|
Ground System Operations & Engineering
|
Operations Assessments
|
Control Center Development
|
Technical Training
|
Software Engineering
|
Systems Engineering
|
Mission Readiness
|
Ground System Operations & Engineering
|