In 2022, three tenants will open or break ground in the spaceport: Collins Aerospace, Intuitive Machines and Axiom Space.
“Our vision ... called for the creation of a cluster of aerospace and aviation companies that will support commercial space flight to become a regular thing,” he said. “Recent developments have once again reaffirmed the positive assertion we made back then.”
Additionally, the airport is accepting contract bids to design Taxiway Lima, a more than $130 million runway that will be vital for Axiom’s 2023 space launch, Machuca said. The taxiway, which will run adjacent to the spaceport and a nearby Ellington Airport runway, will break ground in July with certain sections opening by summer 2023.
A push for aerospace
The three incoming companies will occupy about 50 acres combined within Phase 1 of the spaceport, which Machuca said leaves about 100 acres to attract future tenants. Together, they will bring about 1,500 high-paying jobs to the region, Machuca said.
“The momentum is ripe for us to continue growing,” he said.
In July, Collins Aerospace will open its new facility featuring office space, manufacturing laboratory space and accelerator space, Machuca said.
Intuitive Machines will begin building its new facility in late January ahead of its 2023 opening. The building will replace its current space in the Houston Aerospace Support Center.
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Finally, construction on Axiom Space’s facility will begin this spring and finish in summer 2023. The company will build modules that will connect to the International Space Station with its first launch scheduled for 2023.
Meanwhile, astronaut Jack Fischer’s brainchild, TexSpace, aims to support aerospace companies relocating or launching in the Houston region.
After its spring 2021 launch, TexSpace is working to obtain its nonprofit designation and is forming other partnerships, including with the U.S. Space Force Association. Kim Morris, TexSpace board member and aerospace marketing manager for the Bay Area Houston Economic Partnership, said he hopes the association will establish a presence in Houston.
“The goal this year and going forward is to unite our region’s local academic and innovation communities to best support these emerging startups,” he said.
Other stories to follow in 2022
Amazon to bring jobs to area with League City delivery station
Amazon will open its new, 180,000-square-foot delivery station in League City early this year, Community Impact Newspaper previously reported. The location at 2455 Tuscan Lake Blvd. will speed up deliveries in Galveston County.
The League City site comes after an Amazon delivery station opened in October at 4975 Gulf Freeway, La Marque. While Amazon officials were unable to provide details on how many employees the company will hire for the League City site, the La Marque site hired more than 300 employees, Amazon officials said via email.
