Washington Space Economy: Positioning Washington to Lead the Next Era of Space Innovation — Presented by Space Northwest
- Issuer
- Congressional materials
- Date
- 2025-12-04
Summary
A slide presentation titled Washington Space Economy: Positioning Washington to Lead the Next Era of Space Innovation, presented by Space Northwest to the WA State Senate Business, Financial Services and Trade Committee on December 4, 2025. It cites a Washington space industry of $4.6B in economic activity, 5,810 direct space-sector jobs and 13,100 direct and indirect jobs, and describes more than 100 space and space-related companies statewide. Slides profile the Kent Valley cluster, which it states generates $27.1B in aerospace output, and Redmond's satellite production, along with established space firms, start-ups and aerospace suppliers expanding into space. The presentation closes with workforce goals and policy recommendations such as targeted incentives for space manufacturing and training grants, followed by an appendix on Kent Valley and Redmond.
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Cite this document
“Washington Space Economy: Positioning Washington to Lead the Next Era of Space Innovation — Presented by Space Northwest.”
Original at app.leg.wa.gov, dated 2025-12-04. Archived at Pandemic Darlings, https://pandemicdarlings.com/source-documents/2025-12-04-2025-12-04-a33537-d289968-kelly-maloney-space-northwest-positioning-washington-to-lead/
, SHA-256 77df7309891a2340ef82b3d4f5441ea48822ee0e92b1c4ae99658aa6d3ada8fc.Full text
Washington Space Economy
Positioning Washington to
Lead the Next Era of Space
Innovation
Presented by Space Northwest to the WA State Senate Business, Financial Services and Trade Committee December 4, 2025
Why the Space Industry Matters
• Global space economy estimated at $630B, projected to grow
to $1.8T by 2035.
• Reinforces WA’s aerospace supply chain.
• Creates high-wage manufacturing and engineering opportunities
in communities with the greatest
economic need.
• Driving new investment across Kent Valley—the state’s largest
aerospace and space manufacturing corridor—as well as
Redmond, Bellevue, Marysville, Moses Lake, Spokane, and
communities in between.
• WA competes without the financial incentives offered by CA,
CO, TX, FL, and AL.
• Opportunity: build a statewide new tech industry with local
workforce, broad public benefit, and strategic reinvestment.
Image: Blue Origin
Washington Space Industry Snapshot
• $4.6B in economic activity,* estimated to
grow by more than six times by 2045 to $27B.
• 5,810 direct space-sector jobs.*
• 13,100 direct and indirect jobs.*
• $1.6B in labor income (wages and salaries).*
• Right now—over 1,300 open high-wage jobs in engineering,
manufacturing, and operations.
• 100+ space and space-adjacent companies.
• Growth beyond Puget Sound into Central and Eastern WA.
• Strong supply chain and training infrastructure.
*PSRC 2022
Image: Gravitics
Job Growth in Washington’s Space Economy
Jobs Supported
25000
20000
15000
2018
2022
10000
2026 and Beyond
(Projected: Significant
growth happening and
5000 expected to continue.)
0
2018 2022 2026 and Beyond
2018/2022 numbers from PSRC space studies.
Washington’s Space Ecosystem
Map Details at: spacenorthwest.org/waspacemap
• More than 100 space and space-related companies statewide,
from the Puget Sound to Moses Lake and Spokane.
• New and established space companies.
• Builds on legacy aerospace supply chain.
Example: Kent Valley—WA’s
aerospace and space
manufacturing core. (See slide 9
for details about Kent Valley
ecosystem.)
• Multiple on-ramps: certificates, apprenticeships, associate and
Workforce & bachelor’s degrees.
Educational
Pathways Need • Training partners include CTEs/CTCs, WATR Center, AJAC, Centers
of Excellence, and Washington’s colleges and universities. Many
Support to Sustain roles do not require a four-year degree.
and Grow this
• Benefits: companies gain talent; residents gain high-wage careers;
Sector communities see lasting economic lift.
Image: Future in Flight Career Expo
How Two Local Communities
Are Benefiting from the Space
Economy
Kent and Redmond—two cities integrating
space growth into their economic strategies.
Kent Redmond
Manufacturing Innovation
Together, these clusters form the
Production R&D
backbone of Washington’s
emerging Space Corridor. Testing Satellites
Supply chain
Both illustrate how local communities can
attract high-wage jobs and long-term
investment.
The Kent Valley Cluster: Washington’s Aerospace
and Space Manufacturing Core
Washington’s Space Corridor
Kent Valley—WA’s Aerospace & Space Manufacturing Core
Driving Washington’s Space Economy and Middle-Class Prosperity
Kent Valley generates
$27.1B in aerospace
output—exceeding El
Segundo–Hawthorne–Long
Beach ($21.2B).
Represents 35% of
Washington’s aerospace
economy, with over 13,000
direct jobs and average
wages above $110K.
Powers middle-income,
technical careers that
anchor family-wage jobs in
the region.
Washington’s Space Corridor
Redmond Leads in global
satellite production
Redmond
Space • More satellites are built in Redmond than any other
District city in the world.
• ~65% of all operational satellites in Earth orbit are
manufactured in Redmond and surrounding areas.*
• 19 space-sector companies, including
SpaceX/Starlink, Kuiper/Amazon Leo, L3Harris, and
Honeywell.
• 5,260+ employees in Redmond’s space sector.
• $731M+ annual economic impact to the region.
*Source: Alliance Velocity
Washington’s Space Anchors: Powering a >$5B*
and Growing Industry
These firms represent a fraction of the growing list of space companies. More than
100 companies across Washington now contribute to the space economy.
• Kirkland - State-of-the-art production facility opened
2024 • Kent, WA – 3,000+ employees
• Building Kuiper/Amazon Leo satellite constellation (150 • Develops reusable launch vehicles (New Glenn, New
in orbit—3,200+ planned satellites) Shepard) and BE-4 engines for national and
• 200+ employees—recruiting hundreds of engineers commercial missions
and technicians • Expanding Kent manufacturing and engine test
facilities
• SpaceX/Starlink | Redmond • Kent HQ and Moses Lake test site: driving innovation in
low-cost, rapid-reuse launch
• Manufactures satellites for Starlink broadband
constellation • Developing fully reusable launch vehicle – Nova
• Represents $13.8B in gross economic output, • 250+ employees/recently doubled in size
$318M in indirect taxes, supports 26,000+ WA • Entry-Level Aerospace Technician (ELAT) program—900
jobs, 380+ supply chain vendors in WA applicants
*Estimation based on 2022 PSRC Space Study and subsequent growth.
Up & Coming Start Ups (Out of Dozens)
These four space start ups are a fraction of the new space companies that are raising capital, testing their
equipment successfully, creating jobs, and increasing economies in their local communities.
• Founded 2021 | Bothell, WA • Founded 2024 | Redmond, WA
• Maneuverable multi-orbit spacecraft using solar- • Orbital data centers—AI computing
thermal propulsion Raised $17.5 M seed round in infrastructure deployed in space
2025 • $10M seed round closed in 2025
• Enables on-orbit logistics, servicing, and national • ~12 employees and growing
security applications • Merges Washington’s strength in cloud
computing with space hardware innovation
• Founded 2021 | Marysville, WA • Founded 2019 | Tukwila, WA
• Large pressurized space station modules • On-orbit servicing and satellite life-extension
(vehicle “Otter”). ~83 employees as of 2025.
• Contracts/partnerships: NASA, Space Force, and
commercial station developers • Significance: Expands Washington’s space
ecosystem into the satellite-services, not just
• Creating high-wage jobs in advanced manufacturing
manufacturing/launch.
and systems integration
Washington’s Aerospace Supply Chain
is Expanding into Space
These four suppliers are a fraction of the legacy aerospace suppliers across WA that are adding space to their
portfolios, preserving and increasing jobs and adding economic vitality to their local communities.
Altek | Spokane/Liberty Lake JEMCO | Kirkland
Precision machining and advanced manufacturing supplier AS9100-certified machining and sheet-metal fabrication
expanding from aerospace into satellites, launch systems, provider now producing components for commercial space
and space hardware. and defense-space programs.
Continuous Composites | WA expansion Senior Aerospace AMT | Arlington
Pioneering continuous-fiber 3D printing (CF3D®) for Long-time aerospace structures manufacturer now
next-generation space structures, lightweight components, building precision components for spacecraft and space
and high-performance materials. systems.
Workforce Strategy
• Expand apprenticeships and technical training.
Goals • Align curriculum with industry needs.
• Incentivize company-led training programs.
• Promote diversity and regional equity.
• Strengthen public-private partnerships and data
tracking.
Policy Recommendations
• Targeted incentives for space manufacturing/ testing
facilities.
Legislative • Training grants for aligned workforce programs.
Levers • Support regional cluster infrastructure (e.g., Spokane,
Moses Lake and other areas).
• Encourage company-college training partnerships.
• Promote STEM outreach (e.g., Kherson Park).
• Require reporting on workforce outcomes.
We look forward to working with you to secure
Washington’s leadership in the space economy.
Thank you.
Kelly Maloney
Space Northwest Board of Directors—External Relations
kelly@spacenorthwest.org
Appendix
WA’s Space Corridor
Kent Valley—Building the Next
Generation of Space Talent
Investing in the Future Workforce
• Kent Valley Future in Flight Career Expo connects
students with Blue Origin, Kuiper/Amazon Leo,
Stoke, AJAC, and local manufacturers.
• November 2025: Nearly 800 high school
students and 80 teachers from 3 counties —
with broad participation from CTE and
Running Start.
• Shows career pathways and how space drives
community opportunity.
Investing in the Innovation Ecosystem
• Kent Valley–Eastside cities are co-investing in
a Space Northwest and Space Foundation
Accelerator to grow innovation and startups.
• Focused on education, entrepreneurship, and
events to build a sustainable talent pipeline.
• Will result in companies hiring, training, and
investing locally—keeping high-value jobs in
Washington.
Appendix page 1
Washington’s Space Corridor
Kent Valley—WA’s Aerospace & Space Manufacturing Core
Driving Washington’s Space Economy and Middle-Class Prosperity
• Kent Valley generates $27.1B in aerospace output—
exceeding El Segundo–Hawthorne–Long Beach
($21.2B). Many of these companies contract with both
space and traditional aerospace firms.
• Represents 35% of Washington’s aerospace economy,
with over 13,000 direct jobs and average wages
above $110K.
• Forms the industrial backbone of the state’s “Space
Corridor” from Kent through Redmond, home to Blue
Origin, Stoke, Starfish, Kuiper (now Amazon Leo), and
key suppliers.
• Powers middle-income, technical careers that anchor
family-wage jobs in the region.
• Reinforces Washington’s leadership in advanced
manufacturing and the new space economy.
Appendix page 2
Washington’s Space Corridor
Redmond
• Support the growth of the existing space cluster
Space
in Redmond.
District Goals
• Recruit new companies to the area.
• Coordinate with regional partners to strengthen
the industry cluster.
• Strengthen the workforce pipeline and youth
attainment of STEM degrees.
Appendix page 3
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