2026 Arizona Space Summit
April 28-30, 2026
Positioning Arizona as a premier space hub
The Arizona Space Summit convenes top leaders and decision-makers from across the state and beyond to advance the state’s space economy. As the 5th largest employer in aerospace and defense manufacturing, with over 1,250 supply chain contributors, Arizona is a rising force in the global space economy. From launch services and in-space testing to space situational awareness and off-Earth mining, our diverse ecosystem offers unmatched economic opportunity—and a powerful platform for talent development and student engagement.
Accelerate business growth with strategic incentives
Did you know?
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Industry leaders with operations in the state including Lockheed Martin, Boeing, Honeywell Aerospace, Virgin Galactic, World View Enterprises and General Dynamics Mission Systems.
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The University of Arizona ranks fifth for NASA-funded activity and has long been at the forefront of space exploration dating to the founding of the Lunar and Planetary Laboratory and the first Ranger missions to the moon in the 1960s.
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Arizona ranks top 2 in the nation for aviation maintenance economic activity, received $11.4 billion Department of Defense Contracts in FY 2021 and is home to a $3 billion optics industry.
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At Arizona State University, scientists and researchers have been leading contributors for Mars missions since the NASA Viking missions in the 1970s. The university boasts 40 instrument facilities and laboratories and is participating in more than 25 active space missions.
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Arizona is home to one of Starliner’s landing locations.
Arizona space sector strengths
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Space Domain Awareness
Space Debris
Remote Sensing and Sensor Development
Data analytics and processing
Satellite communications
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Satellite Component Manufacturing
Space Vehicle Manufacturing
Subsystems and subcomponent manufacturing
In-Space Assembly and Manufacturing
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Planetary Science and Geological Sciences
Deep Space Exploration
Microgravity Research
Astronomy
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Space Medicine/Health/Performance
Space and the Humanities
Space Business, Leadership, and Economy
Space Tourism
Augmented and Virtual Reality