USER EXPERIENCE RESEARCH

UX Research at Slingshot Aerospace

At Slingshot Aerospace, we build technology that supports complex decisions in space operations, intelligence, and mission planning. Behind every product feature is a deep understanding of the people who use it.

Understanding the people behind Space Operations Intelligence & Autonomy (SOIA)

Our User Experience (UX) Research team studies how analysts, operators, engineers, and decision-makers interact with our platforms so we can design tools that are intuitive, efficient, and mission-ready.

Through research, we uncover the real workflows, needs, and challenges of our users—turning those insights into better products and better outcomes.

What is UX Research?

User Experience Research is the practice of understanding how people work, think, and interact with technology.

By studying real users in real workflows, we learn:

• What problems they are trying to solve
• How they complete critical tasks
• Where current tools create friction or inefficiencies
• What capabilities would make their work easier and faster

These insights guide product and design decisions across Slingshot's platforms. UX research helps ensure that our technology is not only powerful, but usable, efficient, and aligned with real mission needs.

HOW WE WORK

We are driven by curiosity.

The UX Research team integrates both foundational and evaluative methods to inform the design of space operations intelligence products.

Foundational studies - comprising of interviews, workflow analyses, market research, customer journeys, and diary studies - examine operator behaviors during routine and high-pressure conjunction scenarios. These methods identify mental models, pain points in multi-source data interpretation, and unmet needs related to maneuver planning, risk prioritization, and information hierarchy.

Quantitative approaches - including usage analytics, segmentation analysis, and surveys - are used to validate findings and assess design effectiveness.

Our UX process

All collaboration - no silos. Research is embedded throughout our product development lifecycle.

LEARN

Research & Discovery

Foundational studies examine operator behaviors during routine and high-pressure scenarios. We conduct interviews, workflow analyses, and diary studies to identify mental models, pain points, and unmet needs in areas like maneuver planning and risk prioritization.

BUILD

Design & Prototype

Our design cycle builds on research foundations, enabling rapid execution through live prototyping and AI-enabled tools like Figma Make. We construct interactive experiences that simulate real operational environments for early testing and validation.

MEASURE

Test & Validate

Design and Research teams operate as a continuous feedback loop. As prototypes evolve, we re-engage stakeholders through structured qual & quant evaluations to assess design clarity, ease of use, and operational fit before deployment into mission environments.

Research Impact

UX research directly influences the evolution of Slingshot products.

Reducing user friction and rework

Driving adoption through trust and usability

Improving discoverability and guidance

Supporting seamless workflow continuity

By grounding our design decisions in real user insight, we help ensure Slingshot's technology delivers meaningful value to those who rely on it.

ENGAGE WITH US

We want to hear from you.

Want to share feedback, suggest a research topic, walk us through your workflow, or influence what we build next? Book a 30-minute session with our UX Research team—we’d love to learn from you.

COMMUNITY

Join our UX Research Community

Shape the future of Space Operations Intelligence & Autonomy (SOIA) by sharing your thoughts and experiences. Our goal is to create a space where professionals and students across the space, defense, and intelligence sectors can influence the future of space. Our UX Research team partners with community members to better understand real workflows, challenges, and opportunities. Your feedback helps us design tools that support mission-critical decision making.

You’ll have opportunities to earn incentives like Slingshot Processing Units (SPUs) that can be used toward various activities within the Slingshot Portal such as purchasing satellite data, running analytics or making API requests.

Your insights will directly impact how we build—and help ensure our products support the real-world needs of the space community.

How it works

STEP 1

Tell us about yourself

Start by completing a short form so we can learn a little about your background and experience. Your information will remain confidential and will never be shared outside our research team.

STEP 2

Receive research invitations

We'll send you occasional invitations to participate in research activities that match your experience. Participation is always optional—you can decide if and when you'd like to take part. We welcome participants with a wide range of perspectives, roles, and experiences.

STEP 3

Participate in Research Activities

Connecting with our research team may include:

• One-on-one interviews with our research team
• Screen sharing via video call to test new products or prototypes
• Short surveys to gather feedback
• Small group discussions about workflows or challenges

These sessions help us better understand how our products support real operational needs.

STEP 4

See Your Impact

Your voice matters. We'll share updates on how participant insights influence product improvements and new capabilities.

Joining our UX Research Community gives you the opportunity to contribute to the evolution of Space Operations Intelligence & Autonomy (SOIA) while getting early insight into what Slingshot Aerospace is building next.

ACCESSIBILITY

Digital Accessibility Statement & Policy

At Slingshot Aerospace, we are committed to ensuring digital accessibility for all users, including people with disabilities. We strive to provide an inclusive, usable, and accessible experience across our public-facing website, and customer-facing digital platforms.

Our Commitment

We are actively working to ensure our external web applications and digital experiences conform to the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) 2.2 Level AA standards. Our accessibility program prioritizes high-impact requirements that help provide meaningful access for users who rely on assistive technologies, including keyboard navigation and screen readers.

Slingshot Aerospace is committed to providing digital experiences that are:

• Perceivable
• Operable
• Understandable
• Robust