Phoenix Model for Space Innovation
Phoenix
Secure, cloud-native engineering for space and defence
Phoenix is a secure, ephemeral innovation environment that accelerates architectural decision-making by proving solutions through rapid, hands-on experimentation.
Innovation as a service
We don’t just manage innovation, we engineer it. Phoenix provides the team, infrastructure, tools, and processes to run intense, time-bound developments and build real solutions.
Critical thinking, delivered
We apply deep systems thinking to real-world challenges: breaking down complexity, framing the right problems, and translating insight into demonstrable systems.
Built for renewal
We build knowing it will end, so the next cycle can begin stronger. Each rebirth shaped by the last cycle.
01 // Why Phoenix exists
By the time a contract is placed, the solution may already be outdated
The UK Government is under pressure to deliver capability faster and more efficiently, yet traditional programmes often require years of detailed specification and procurement before development can begin. By the time a contract is placed, the solution may already be outdated: the process is neither agile nor designed to adapt to a rapidly evolving technical landscape. Rigid, risk-averse delivery models lock departments into fixed technical directions before the problem is fully understood. Much of that “risk” stems from the uncertainty of making the wrong decision too early. Phoenix exists to change that, enabling departments to develop and iterate immediately before committing to full-scale delivery.
02 // What is Phoenix
Phoenix delivers a fully self-contained, engineering-led service built to deliver capability at pace.
It applies deep expertise in cloud, software, space, and security domains to challenges specific to the space sector, identifying where cloud-native architectures, modern engineering practices, and AI-enabled tooling can unlock best-in-class technical solutions. Using agile methodologies combined with the right tools, techniques, and processes, Phoenix builds and iterates rapidly. Pace comes from starting with the problem, not a specification, and from the strategic use of AI-enabled tooling to drive engineering outcomes at speed.
03 // Core principles
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Start with a problem
Innovation begins with a problem.
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Build to learn
Agility: we learn through building and pivot as we go.
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Fail fast, deliver insight
Failure is progress: it clears the path for what works.
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Time-boxed cycles
Time-boxed increments cap risk and accelerate learning.
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No spectators
We don’t observe, we engineer, together.
04 // Benefits at a glance
Accelerated, evidence-led delivery
Rapidly explore solutions and create proof of concept systems in weeks from problems.
Safe space to innovate
A trusted ecosystem beyond corporate guardrails, enabling secure exploration, rapid iteration, and collaboration.
Upskilling
Embed engineering staff directly into innovation cycles to rapidly accelerate learning through hands-on experience.
Architectural ownership
Retain control of solution architecture, reducing supplier reliance and avoiding vendor lock-in.
05 // When to use Phoenix
Prove it before you commit to it
- You want to innovate, but internal structures or policy make it hard to build and run the model yourself.
- You need to inform future procurement with validated, demonstrable solutions.
- You seek a trusted, low classification ecosystem to explore system integration challenges safely.
- You understand the problem, but the engineering solution is uncertain.
- You want to safely evaluate cloud-native technologies and their relevance for space systems.
06 // How Phoenix works
A development pipeline for delivering innovation at pace
Once under contract, Phoenix becomes your dedicated cloud ecosystem, provisioned rapidly via infrastructure-as-code and tailored to your mission. You gain access to an authenticated environment with integrated DevOps tooling to manage work, tasks, and delivery. This includes code repositories, CI/CD pipelines, and a suite of design and information management tools to support collaboration and traceability.
Working alongside your Product Owner or client-side Innovation Manager, we establish delivery ceremonies that drive progress, with the Phoenix Core team leading the engineering effort from concept to deployment. The delivery model works because it’s built on Phoenix’s three foundational pillars: a mindset, a secure infrastructure, and a dedicated delivery team.
Approach
Phoenix replaces rigid delivery models with a fast-paced, problem-led mindset. Grounded in agile principles and critical thinking, the team works autonomously, adapts quickly, and pivots as needed, always focused on engineering outcomes.
Infrastructure
Phoenix delivers secure, scalable cloud platforms through infrastructure-as-code. From identity integration to Kubernetes orchestration, every deployment is mission-tailored, policy-compliant, and designed to be reproducible and ephemeral.
Delivery team
The Engine is a multidisciplinary team with deep domain expertise in cloud, software, space, and security. They manage the innovation cycle end-to-end, from concept to deployment, and deliver working solutions at pace.
07 // Phoenix procurement model
Fixed-price engineering, capped cloud spend
The Engine
A firm fixed-price service covering the engineering team and licence for Phoenix products and services. Contracted in three-month increments, with built-in options to extend. This is the core of Phoenix: the engine that drives capability creation. Each increment is billed in three payment milestones:
- 01 Ignition
- 02 Waypoint
- 03 Final
Cloud costs
Usage-based billing, capped with a Limit of Liability (LoL) and managed with built-in cost controls. These charges are separate from the Phoenix Engine and reflect infrastructure spend within your selected cloud platform.
Intellectual property
We retain background IP for the products, services and processes that support our development environment. All foreground IP generated is owned by you, or governed by commercial agreements with contributing partners.
What you get
You receive the developed solution as code, a working demonstration, and a structured wiki capturing all decisions, procedures, and technical artefacts produced throughout the cycle. Every line of code is yours to keep, adapt, and build on.
08 // Who we are
The Phoenix Core team
The Phoenix Core team is a partnership between NuSpace and Mongoose Security, two UK-based micro-SMEs with deep expertise in space systems, security, cloud, and software engineering. We’ve built Phoenix to turn complex problems into operationally viable capability: securely, strategically, and at pace.
What next?
Request a technical briefing
To explore how Phoenix can support your organisation, request a technical briefing. We’ll walk through the operating model, architectural options, and example use cases. Our goal is to support your cloud journey and help you understand how Phoenix can solve the challenges you’re facing. Contact us to schedule your briefing and begin your first cycle.