Colorado's aerospace industry has critical mass. Colorado ranks second in the United States for private aerospace employment concentration. With direct private aerospace employment of 24,700 workers, Colorado ranks third in total private employment among the 50 states.

The Colorado Office of Economic Development and International Trade assists aerospace companies by providing technical assistance, counseling and access to training programs and other business incentive/financial programs. Our business development representatives work closely with a statewide network of partners to assist with the site location process, provide customized research and economic conditions and comparisons, and offer other solutions to meet the needs of businesses in the aerospace industry.

Industry Overview

Colorado has a strong aerospace, satellite and space industry, with more than 100 companies engaged in the research, development and production of a wide variety of products and systems for commercial, military and space applications. These include guided missiles and space vehicles, satellite telecommunications, search/detection instruments, interplanetary spacecraft, space launch systems, space imaging, ground systems, antennae, satellites and electro-optic instruments.

Colorado is home to the nation's third largest space economy, providing the support, resources and workforce to promote innovation and industry leadership. The Metro Denver region (which includes both the Denver and Boulder-Longmont communities) is ranked second among the 50 largest metropolitan areas for aerospace industry cluster employment concentration, and Colorado Springs also has considerable space industry activity, particularly in connection with thelarge Air Force presence in that area.

Colorado's aerospace and satellite companies provide an estimated 130,000 direct and indirect jobs, generating more than $4 billion a year in revenues.

Industry-leading companies in Colorado include Ball Aerospace, Lockheed Martin, Boeing, Raytheon, Northrupp-Grumman, Space Imaging, and Echostar. This industry will continue to be an enormous economic generator in coming years as the commercialization (and, potentially, the militarization) of space becomes more widespread. By the year 2010, revenues are expected to increase to $7 billion, and industry employment is expected to rise to 232,000 direct and indirect workers.

Recent Wins

Orion Spacecraft
Orion is NASA's new spacecraft for human space exploration in the 21st century, which will replace the Space Shuttle as NASA's primary manned space vehicle. Orion is also expected to play a role in the manned exploration of Mars. Previously known as the Crew Exploration Vehicle, Orion is scheduled to make its maiden flight no later than 2014 and its first lunar flight no later than 2020.

On Aug. 31, 2006, NASA awarded a seven-year $3.9 billion dollar contract to Colorado company Lockheed Martin to design and build Orion. This project will add 600 highly skilled engineering and related jobs to Lockheed Martin's existing Colorado workforce and bolster Colorado's position as a leader in space exploration. This initial contract is 'Schedule A' of the project, and upon completion, NASA will award a subsequent 'Schedule B' contract potentially worth another $3.5 billion.

United Launch Alliance
The Boeing Company and Lockheed Martin announced on December 1, 2006, that operations were underway for the United Launch Alliance (ULA), a new joint venture between the companies that would serve as a single contract entity combining the assets, functions and expertise of mission management and support, engineering, vehicle production, test and launch operations of the Delta and Atlas rocket programs. This revolutionary collaboration will be headquartered just outside of Denver in Jefferson County.

ULA will provide assured access to space at reduced costs for government missions for such customers such as the Department of Defense, the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA), the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) and the National Reconnaissance Office (NRO). The combined ULA team will offer innovative solutions for current and future national launch requirements.

As ULA moves forward, the venture will result in 1,000 new jobs for Colorado residents and further promote Colorado's reputation as a leader in aerospace.

Northern Command Project
Additional future growth of Colorado's space industry is likely with the construction of a new U.S. Air Force command post in Colorado Springs. The location of Northern Command at Peterson Air Force Base could create up to 1,000 new jobs, adding to the approximately 29,000 military and 11,000 civilian personnel currently stationed on military bases throughout Colorado. The new command post would also give Colorado added recognition for its enhanced role in homeland defense.