Every year, the Space Symposium brings space professionals from across the globe to Colorado Springs, to explore critical space issues and drive innovation. We can think of no better state for this incredible event. Colorado’s multifaceted aerospace, defense, and security industry encompasses a wide range of sectors that contribute to a full spectrum aerospace economy. As we like to say, Colorado’s aerospace industry is out of this world.
In celebration of the 40th Space Symposium and to showcase some of the innovative aerospace companies under Colorado’s “roof”, let’s take a step-by-step journey from the ground to the stars to understand how the aerospace industry contributes positively to the state’s economy, national security, technological advancement, human exploration, and America’s leadership role in space.
On the Ground: Radio Stations Designed for Extraplanetary Telecommunication
Colorado boasts the highest concentration of aerospace workers per capita globally and is home to half of the U.S. Space Force, providing the nation with key space capabilities. One of those capabilities includes ground stations—radio stations designed for communication over great distances with spacecraft. At Northrop Grumman—a leading global aerospace and defense technology company located in Aurora, Colorado—Joint Tactical Ground Station (JTAGS) gathers and shares information about missile launches and other dangers, protecting our national security. Another foundational component for efficient space travel includes the propulsion and rockets necessary for spacecrafts to advance.
Reaching Beyond the Sky: Propulsion and Rockets
Spacecrafts fly with propulsion, the force that enables forward movement. Examples of companies specializing in this area are Durango-based Agile Space Industries, which designs thrusters and rocket engines specializing in hypergolic propellants, and Centennial-based United Launch Alliance (ULA) which develops rockets. In fact, ULA's Vulcan rocket is a powerful and precise new rocket ushering in a new era of space capabilities, delivering diverse payloads to any orbit. These advancements are essential for expanding the boundaries of space exploration and scientific discovery—enabling humans and satellites to join this journey.
One Giant Leap for Mankind: Manned Spacecraft and Satellites
When it comes to exploring our moon, technologies designed for lunar exploration must be able to withstand the unique environment. Colorado's largest aerospace employer, Lockheed Martin, is working on NASA’s Artemis mission, with the goal of landing the first woman on the moon, and developing manned spacecraft, like the Orion capsule, to carry astronauts into space. The company also works on numerous military, intelligence, civil and commercial space projects. Additionally, York Space Systems, a Denver-based aerospace company, specializes in manufacturing mission-ready spacecraft platforms, including satellites for communication, navigation, weather forecasting, Earth observation, and scientific research. These sectors are instrumental in expanding humanity's reach beyond Earth and ensuring that space exploration continues to be a priority.
Humans Among the Stars: Space Stations, Lunar Landers and Rovers
Once among the stars, the next step requires machinery that can maintain astronauts in low Earth orbit (LEO) or on the moon’s surface. Voyager Technologies, a Denver-based company specializing in defense, national security, and space technology, is playing a key role in ensuring continued human presence in LEO. Voyager is developing Starlab, a next-generation space station that will provide space agencies, researchers, and companies with the necessary infrastructure to conduct microgravity research and other activities, effectively transitioning research from the International Space Station (ISS) to a commercial platform. The station will support human habitation for extended periods, making it crucial for maintaining American leadership in LEO.
Lunar landers are specifically designed to handle the moon’s unique conditions, enabling the delivering of cargo and astronauts to descend and land on the lunar surface, conduct activities, and sometimes ascend back to the spacecraft. Englewood-based ispace technologies is hosting the development of the APEX 1.0 lunar lander meant to deliver a suite of multiple science payloads as part of the NASA Commercial Lunar Payload Services (CLPS) Initiative.
Another way to explore the moon is with a lunar rover, a battery-powered, wire-wheeled vehicle designed for exploring the lunar surface. Colorado's Lunar Outpost has won contracts to build lunar rovers including the lunar terrain vehicle (LTV) that astronauts will use during NASA’s Artemis campaign, enabling a sustainable presence on the moon.
Behind the Scenes: Labs and Space Enablers
These innovations in space stations, lunar landers, and lunar rovers not only contribute to space exploration but also solidify Colorado's position at the forefront of the aerospace industry. While the more visible operations capture public attention, the behind-the-scenes work of research labs and enabling technologies are what drive the aerospace industry forward. For example, the Laboratory for Atmospheric and Space Physics (LASP) at the University of Colorado, Boulder allows undergraduate and graduate students to work alongside scientists, mission operators, data analysts, and engineers, as well as government, academic, and industry partners, to push the limits of space science and exploration.
Companies and organizations also facilitate and advance the space industry. Denver-based Palantir Technologies and the Elevate Quantum consortium are two great examples. Palantir’s software platforms help public, private, and non-profit institutions integrate and analyze their data to quickly implement solutions to the hardest challenges they face. Meanwhile, quantum technology, through faster and more accurate simulations, materials development, and optimization of designs and processes, can revolutionize the aerospace industry, leading to more efficient aircraft and spacecraft. Elevate Quantum’s public-private consortium, with more than 120 member organizations, works to ensure the Mountain West retains its role as a national and international leader in quantum technologies and quantum information science.
Colorado's impressive aerospace economy, encompassing every step of the journey from ground stations to space stations, is a testament to the state's national leadership in the dynamic and evolving aerospace industry.