SPG is an active member of the NanoLaunch enterprise which has been founded by four small entrepreneurial companies to develop a devoted, responsive and cost effective vehicle to launch Nano-satellites (1-10 kg) and Micro-satellites (10-100 kg) into Low Earth Orbit (LEO) using the American Fighter F-15 Eagle as the air platform. The other members of the NanoLaunch team are Premier Jets, Whittinghill Aerospace and Spath Engineering.

NanoLaunch is structured to leverage the diverse and applicable experience of the NanoLaunch component companies for achieving operational orbital capability. For example, SPG is one of the world's leaders in hybrid rocket propulsion field and has developed a unique high performance hybrid rocket technology. Premier Jets has wide experience in high performance jet operation; including the F-15. Whittinghill and Spath both have deep engineering expertise and have participated materially in launch vehicle development programs such as RASCAL.

The preliminary design of a two stage orbital Expendable Rocket Vehicle (NanoLaunch I) has been completed. The general characteristics of the NanoLaunch I system can be summarized as:

1. Air launched from an F-15
2. A two-stage Expendable Rocket Vehicle (ERV) dropped from the airplane
3. Paraffin-based/LOX hybrid rockets on both ERV stages
4. First-stage 22" diameter hybrid rocket currently under development
5. Second-stage 10" diameter hybrid rockets currently under development
6. Restartable second-stage
7. Upper-stage steering differentially throttled by three parallel motors
8. First-stage uses LITVC

The preliminary design calculations have indicated a 30 kg payload capability to a 400 kilometer polar orbit. A view of the F-15 ERV integrated vehicle are shown in Figure.

F-15 ERV integrated vehicle