Fluid Gravity Engineering
Fluid Gravity Engineering is a UK-based scientific consultancy of 25 specialists that solves multi-physics problems in high-speed, high-energy-density environments using its own proprietary CFD, hydrocode, and material-response software, primarily serving ESA and European space primes.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1994
- HeadquartersEmsworth, United Kingdom
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingServices
What Fluid Gravity Engineering does
Fluid Gravity Engineering Ltd (FGE) is a UK-based scientific consultancy established in the early 1990s and headquartered in Emsworth, Hampshire, with a second office in St Andrews, Scotland. The firm employs 25 full-time scientists and engineers and specialises in computational physics using continuum mechanics across fluid dynamics, thermodynamics, shock physics, reactive multiphase flow, constitutive material response, and electromagnetics, with a particular focus on regimes where high speeds and energy densities exceed the capability of off-the-shelf commercial software.
FGE develops and maintains its own proprietary computational code stack, which it has done for over 30 years. Core tools include the TINA 3D CFD code for hypersonic flow, the MABLE material-response code for ablative thermal protection systems, the TRAJ6D six-degree-of-freedom trajectory code, the STASIS thermochemical equilibrium code, the SAM Spacecraft Aerothermal Model (jointly developed with Belstead Research Limited for ESA's Concurrent Design Facility), and a suite of parallel 3D hydrocodes. These tools are flight-proven through heritage on Beagle2 and Schiaparelli and underpin FGE's role in the ESTIMATE European Space Material Demisability Database.
FGE operates a sales-led professional services model, selling specialised multi-physics consultancy through direct engagement with government agencies and aerospace prime contractors. Civil space is the primary segment (anchored by ESA and primes such as Thales Alenia Space, Airbus Defence and Space, and Ariane Group), with maritime and oil-and-gas listed as secondary segments though unsupported by named customers in available sources. The firm is privately held with no external funding rounds or institutional investors disclosed.
Fluid Gravity Engineering firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Fluid Gravity Engineering
- Legal name
- Fluid Gravity Engineering Ltd
- Website
- https://fluidgravity.co.uk
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1994
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- Fluid Gravity Engineering is a UK-based scientific consultancy of 25 specialists that solves multi-physics problems in high-speed, high-energy-density environments using its own proprietary CFD, hydrocode, and material-response software, primarily serving ESA and European space primes.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Fluid Gravity Engineering industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Scientific & Engineering Consultancy
- NAICS
- Space Research and Technology (927)
- SIC
- Search, Detection, Navagation, Guidance, Aeronautical Sys (3812)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Space Payloads & Instruments (Sensors, Comms, EO/IR) (IMABACAD)
Keywords
Where Fluid Gravity Engineering is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Emsworth
- HQ country
- United Kingdom
- HQ region
- Europe
Offices2 records
Markets served
Fluid Gravity Engineering business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Technology or R&D, Operations, Marketing or Sales
Revenue model
- Scientific Consultancy Services: FGE provides specialized scientific consultancy services applying computational physics expertise to solve complex multi-physics problems for customers in civil space, maritime, and oil and gas sectors. Services include aerodynamic and aerothermodynamic analyses, spacecraft demise assessments, and engineering calculations.
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels1 record
Marketing channels3 records
Fluid Gravity Engineering product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Fluid Gravity Engineering (FGE) is a UK-based scientific consultancy that applies proprietary computational physics codes to solve multi-physics problems involving high speeds and energy densities. The firm develops and maintains its own CFD, hydrocode, trajectory, material response, and thermochemical tools, delivering aerodynamic, aerothermodynamic, and re-entry analyses to clients in civil space, maritime, and oil and gas sectors.
Product overview
Fluid Gravity Engineering is a scientific consultancy specializing in computational physics rather than a product company. They develop and maintain their own suite of proprietary computational codes used for answering customer questions in multi-physics environments involving high speeds and energy densities. Their core computational tools include: TINA (3D CFD code for hypersonic flow analysis), MABLE (material response code for thermal protection system simulation), SAM (Spacecraft Aerothermal Model for destructive entry analysis, jointly developed with BRL for ESA), TRAJ6D (6DOF trajectory code for aerodynamic databases), and STASIS (multi-phase thermochemical equilibrium code). These codes range from highly parallel 3D hydrocodes to highly parallel 3D CFD codes, with additional engineering codes validated from high-fidelity simulations and experiments.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Computational Physics Consultancy
Quantifiable outcome
- 99% of scientific data collected from ExoMars Schiaparelli lander despite crash landing
- +2 more outcomes
Companies that use Fluid Gravity Engineering
Customer profileNamed customers7 records
Segments3 records
Ideal customer profiles2 records
Fluid Gravity Engineering technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed Yes
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature6 records
Fluid Gravity Engineering partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
17 partnerships are on record, tiered core, major and minor.
- Belstead Research Limited (BRL)coreBRL is a consortium partner on multiple ESA projects including the DRACO mission team and jointly developed the SAM (Spacecraft Aerothermal Model) with FGE. Also participated in PADRE project and Characterisation of Demisable Materials project.
- Dynamic Imaging Analytics (DIAL)coreDIAL is part of the DRACO mission team working on the instrument breadboard development for the destructive re-entry assessment experiment.
- VorticitycoreVorticity is a DRACO mission team member and collaborated on Earth Return Capsule technologies, capsule shape selection, and flight data exploitation. Designed and built the SUPERMAX capsule for which FGE provided aerodynamic calculations.
- Thales Alenia SpacecorePrime contractor for ExoMars programmes. FGE provides aerodynamics and aerothermodynamics support for ExoMars 2028 Rosalind Franklin Mission phase B1 activities. FGE led international consortium for Schiaparelli lander aerodynamic and aerothermodynamic activities reporting to Thales Alenia.
- European Space Agency (ESA)corePrimary customer and partner for multiple projects including Clean Space activities, DRACO mission, destructive entry assessments, Spacecraft Aerothermal Model development, and various technology development programmes.
- DLR (German Aerospace Center)majorConsortium partner in ESA Clean Space activities and CHARDEM consortium for ESTIMATE database. Provided LBK facilities at DLR Cologne and PWK facilities at IRS Stuttgart for experimental work.
- Ariane GroupmajorCollaborated on ExoMars activities leveraging knowledge from Schiaparelli design activities and flight data. Part of international consortium for Clean Space activities.
- Airbus Defence and SpacemajorPart of European RTG prototype development consortium led by University of Leicester. Also participated in ESA Clean Space activities consortium.
- Imperial College LondonmajorPhD student support through Imperial College Centre for Doctoral Training in Fluid Dynamics. Thomas Rees pursued PhD developing improved models for spacecraft fragmentation with FGE support and technical advice.
- University of OxfordmajorPhD student Nathan Donaldson studied Hypersonic Modelling and Testing of Space Debris During Planetary Entry with FGE support. Dr. Tobias Hermann awarded UKRI Future Leaders Fellowship for hypersonic research in collaboration with FGE.
- University of LeicestermajorLed development of new power generation technologies for space exploration as part of ESA funded programme. FGE assisted in material properties definition for RTG aeroshell and computed high temperature material response.
- DEIMOScoreLeading development of the DRACO host platform for the debris re-entry experiment mission.
- Orbital Access LtdmajorFGE forms part of UK Supply Chain coordinated by Orbital Access Ltd for UK Two-Stage-To-Orbit Launcher concept (European Space Agency awarded 200,000 Euro contract).
- Open UniversityminorFGE provided calculations for design and planning of sample analysis phase for space exploration missions supporting ESA PROSPECT programme for lunar volatiles preservation.
- University of StrathclydeminorAcademic partner in ESA Clean Space international consortium for destructive entry activities.
- IRS (Institute of Space Systems)minorConsortium partner in Characterisation of Demisable Materials project. PWK facilities at IRS Stuttgart used for experimental work contributing to ESTIMATE database.
- R.TechminorPart of ESA Clean Space international consortium for destructive entry activities.
Scale indicators3 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights6 records
Fluid Gravity Engineering competitors and assessment
Company assessmentBroad incumbents
- Beyond Gravity (formerly RUAG Space): European space equipment and services supplier covering structures, mechanisms, thermal protection, and re-entry systems for ESA and European primes. Comparable as a larger incumbent serving ESA programs with adjacent capabilities in thermal protection and spacecraft re-entry hardware where FGE provides computational support.
- Aerospace Corporation: US federally funded research and development center providing objective technical analyses for national-security space programs. Comparable as a premier engineering services organization supporting government space agencies with deep computational and re-entry expertise, but operating at much larger scale.
Emerging players
- Numeca: Belgian-based provider of computational fluid dynamics and multiphysics simulation software and consultancy. Comparable in computational physics expertise for high-speed flows and aerospace applications, though primarily a software vendor rather than a project consultancy like FGE.
Direct peers
- Cambridge Flow Solutions: UK-based consultancy developing and applying advanced CFD codes for industrial and aerospace flow problems. Comparable UK specialist delivering bespoke computational fluid dynamics solutions, similar in scale and customer mix to FGE.
- Belstead Research Limited: UK-based scientific consultancy that co-developed the SAM Spacecraft Aerothermal Model with FGE and is a core consortium partner across ESA Clean Space, DRACO, PADRE, and material demisability programmes. Directly comparable specialist boutique delivering computational physics and engineering support to ESA.
- Analytical Mechanics Associates: US-based aerospace engineering services firm providing trajectory analysis, mission design, and computational physics support to NASA and DoD. Directly comparable scientific consultancy serving flagship government spaceflight programs with similar technical disciplines (orbital mechanics, aerodynamics, re-entry).
- CFD Research Corporation: US engineering services and simulation software firm delivering multi-physics and computational fluid dynamics R&D to aerospace, defense, and biomedical customers. Comparable as a specialist computational physics services provider with proprietary codes and government program work.
- Reaction Engines: UK aerospace company developing hypersonic and precooled propulsion technologies for reusable space transportation. Comparable as a UK specialist firm addressing high-speed, high-energy-density flow regimes that overlap with FGE's computational aerothermodynamics expertise.
- Vorticity: UK aerospace firm designing hypersonic test capsules (e.g., SUPERMAX for FGE's aerodynamic calculations) and a DRACO consortium partner. Comparable specialist boutique working at the intersection of capsule aerodynamic design, hypersonic testing, and flight experimentation.
- Sierra Engineering: US aerospace engineering consultancy providing aerothermodynamic, trajectory, and systems analysis to NASA, DoD, and commercial space customers. Directly comparable boutique scientific services firm in re-entry and hypersonic flight regimes.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Fluid Gravity Engineering social profiles
Digital presenceFluid Gravity Engineering financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Fluid Gravity Engineering leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles1 record
Fluid Gravity Engineering funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Fluid Gravity Engineering M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Fluid Gravity Engineering
What does Fluid Gravity Engineering do?
Fluid Gravity Engineering (FGE) is a UK-based scientific consultancy that applies proprietary computational physics codes to solve multi-physics problems involving high speeds and energy densities. The firm develops and maintains its own CFD, hydrocode, trajectory, material response, and thermochemical tools, delivering aerodynamic, aerothermodynamic, and re-entry analyses to clients in civil space, maritime, and oil and gas sectors.
Is Fluid Gravity Engineering a public or private company?
Fluid Gravity Engineering is a private company. It is classified as founder individual operated bootstrapped and is currently operating.
When was Fluid Gravity Engineering founded?
Fluid Gravity Engineering was founded in 1994. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is Fluid Gravity Engineering based?
Fluid Gravity Engineering is headquartered in Emsworth, United Kingdom, in the Europe region.
How does Fluid Gravity Engineering make money?
One revenue line is on record: scientific Consultancy Services.
Who are Fluid Gravity Engineering's main competitors?
Broad incumbents on record are Beyond Gravity (formerly RUAG Space) and Aerospace Corporation. Numeca is listed as an emerging player. Direct peers are Cambridge Flow Solutions, Belstead Research Limited, Analytical Mechanics Associates, CFD Research Corporation, Reaction Engines, Vorticity and Sierra Engineering.
Does Fluid Gravity Engineering have an API?
No public API is recorded for Fluid Gravity Engineering.
What industry is Fluid Gravity Engineering in?
Fluid Gravity Engineering's product category is Scientific & Engineering Consultancy. Its primary akta.pro industry code is IMABACAD, Space Payloads & Instruments (Sensors, Comms, EO/IR). Its NAICS code is 927 and its SIC code is 3812.