Space Florida Drives Major Wins for the Global Aerospace Industry

EXPLORATION PARK, Fla. — January 5, 2025 — Space Florida, the state’s aerospace finance and development authority, closed out 2025 with a 220-aerospace project pipeline valued at $6 billion and more than a half a billion dollars invested in spaceports from 2012 to 2025.  Space Florida, in close partnership with FloridaCommerce and the Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT), continues to set the standard for aerospace commerce. Florida’s dominance is evident in its record-breaking 109 launches in 2025, transporting more than 2,100 payloads totaling over 3 million pounds, leading America in the global space economy. As Florida enters the first full week of 2026, Governor Ron DeSantis reinforced the state’s commitment to aerospace growth through his FY26 budget recommendations, which include $17.5 million for Space Florida’s operating budget and $21 million to support strategic, substantive aerospace project investments statewide.

“What’s happening in Florida is the power of partnership at scale,” said Col. Rob Long (ret.), president and CEO, Space Florida. “We’ve built an ecosystem where industry can move faster, invest with confidence, and grow for the long term. That coordinated approach is why Florida's aerospace strategy is working and why companies continue to choose to do business here. Florida’s aerospace future is accelerating faster than ever with leadership from Gov. Ron DeSantis and Chair Jeanette Nuñez.”

“Florida continues to lead because we match ambition with action. Space Florida’s achievements this year demonstrate the strength of our strategy and our valuable partnerships driving this industry forward,” said Jeanette Nuñez, Chair, Space Florida Board of Directors.‍

“This year Florida hit triple-digit launches from the Space Coast. A milestone that reflects FDOT’s commitment and partnership with Space Florida to keeping Florida as the center of space development and exploration,” said FDOT Secretary Jared W. Perdue, P.E. “Space launches from Florida's coast surpass the number from anywhere in the globe, a true testament to the great leadership of our state and vision to the future.”

“Under Governor DeSantis’ leadership, Florida continues to invest in the talent, infrastructure, and financial structures necessary for aerospace innovation readiness,” said Florida Secretary of Commerce J. Alex Kelly. “While other states are scrambling to try to catch up to Florida’s aviation and aerospace advantages, we’re grateful for the Governor’s continued support of Space Florida and state and local partners to keep Florida on the forefront of launching and landing, manufacturing, defense collaboration, and commercial innovation.”

Industry Leaders Point to Space Florida as Catalyst and Key Partner

Brian Huseman, Vice President of Public Policy and Community Engagement, Amazon: “Our Payload Processing Facility in Cape Canaveral plays a central role in Amazon Leo’s mission to help close the digital divide. Space Florida has been an incredible partner in helping make this facility a reality, and we’re excited to continue working together to deliver meaningful benefits for communities and customers around the world.”‍

Antoine Blin, Chief of Staff, AURA AERO: “We are deeply grateful for Space Florida’s support, which has made it possible to launch our first industrial operations in the United States. The grand opening of our Daytona Beach facility marks a major milestone in this partnership. We look forward to expanding our presence here as we move into the next phase: building the plant that will produce our 19-seat aircraft — designed to become the first hybrid-electric regional aircraft.”

Tim Spratto, Vice President and General Manager, BAE Systems Maritime Solutions Jacksonville: “BAE Systems’ shipyard in Jacksonville experienced a monumental 2025. With critical support from Space Florida and other key partners, BAE Systems successfully commissioned and began operating our new 25,000-ton shiplift and land-level repair facility. The shiplift significantly increases our dry dock capability including allowing simultaneous dry-docking of multiple U.S. Navy and commercial vessels. In the past few months, BAE has successfully docked six U.S. Navy and commercial vessels—a new and exciting capability for our Navy and commercial customers.”

Dave Limp, CEO, Blue Origin: “We’re fortunate to work alongside Space Florida as we scale our presence in the state and invest in infrastructure that supports New Glenn’s increasing launch cadence and advances the next era of U.S. space exploration. Further, we’re rapidly scaling our lunar program and facilities in Florida to ensure America leads the return to the Moon.”

John Mulholland, Vice President and Program Manager, CCTS and Florida Site Leader, The Boeing Company: “With Space Florida’s partnership, we’re building on a shared commitment to drive aerospace innovation and advance Boeing’s defense and space programs for years to come.”

Shannon Williams, Sr. Director, Florida Business, Leonardo Helicopter Program: “Space Florida has been an exceptional partner in bringing the Florida Support Center to life. Their commitment to strengthening Florida's aerospace ecosystem aligns directly with Leonardo's mission to grow our U.S. industrial footprint, support local workforce development, and deliver world-class capability to our commercial and military customers. This partnership is a testament to what can be achieved when industry and state leadership share a common vision for advancing national readiness and regional economic growth.”

Brian Baluta, Director, Government Relations, Lockheed Martin Space in Florida: “As Lockheed Martin seeks to grow pathways connecting talent with aerospace and defense careers, we have found a strong partner in Space Florida. Innovative solutions, such as the industry-driven Space Florida Academy Program, provide students across the state with training opportunities to acquire the skills employers demand. We look forward to another year of collaboration with Space Florida, highlighted by exciting missions like the Artemis II crewed launch, which will inspire the next generation of space talent.”

Chris Stott, Executive Chair, Lonestar: “There's no better partner than Space Florida in working to build a better future.”

Kiko Dontchev, Vice President, Launch, SpaceX: “After a record-breaking year of 100+ launched from our two launch pads in Florida, 2026 promises to be equally – if not more – exciting! In addition to our new Gigabay, SpaceX will bring Starship to Florida, helping to evolve the Florida Spaceport into airport-like operations as we continue to provide greater access for humanity to go to the Moon, Mars, and beyond.”

Andrew Rush, CEO and Co-Founder, Star Catcher: “Space Florida's partnership enabled us to rapidly iterate and demonstrate the fundamentals of our power beaming technology while expanding our footprint in Florida. They supported a key unlock for building the first power grid in space which will in turn support continued expansion of the space sector in Florida and around the world.”

2025 Space Florida Projects and Initiatives

• Amazon Leo (formerly Project Kuiper) — $120 million satellite processing facility operational at the Launch and Landing Facility; $19.5 million expansion underway following first production launch; 130+ jobs.

• AURA AERO Manufacturing & Assembly Plant — $172.5 million 500,000-square-foot  facility in Daytona Beach; production of up to 100 aircraft per year beginning in 2029; 1,030 jobs.  

• BAE Systems Ship Repair Facility — $250 million shiplift and land-level ship repair facility in Jacksonville opened in 2025, tripling dry-dock capacity for military and commercial vessels.

• Blue Origin Lunar Production Facility — $9.25 million investment supporting lunar vehicle assembly for New Glenn at Cape Canaveral, completed in September 2025; Blue Origin now employs nearly 4,000 people in the state.

• Boeing & Embry-Riddle Engineering Center — 65,000-square-foot facility at Embry-Riddle Research Park supporting defense and space design, R&D, prototyping, and workforce development; 400 jobs.

• Leonardo Florida Support Center — $65 million helicopter maintenance and support facility in Santa Rosa County serving U.S. Navy, Marine Corps, and Coast Guard fleets; 150 jobs.

• Lonestar Data Holdings — Integration and testing completed for “Freedom,” the world’s first physical lunar data center payload.

• SpaceX Gigabay & Starship Launch Operations — $1.8 billion, 815,000-square-foot Starship and Super Heavy integration facility under construction at Cape Canaveral; completion expected in 2026; 600 jobs.

• Star Catcher — Successful optical power-beaming demonstrations at the Launch and Landing Facility, delivering more than 1.1 kW to solar panels and validating scalable in-orbit power networks.

• Williams International — $1 billion+ investment in a multi-phase aviation gas turbine manufacturing campus in Okaloosa County; first 250,000-square-foot phase targeted for late 2026; 330+ jobs.

Systemwide Strategic Initiatives

• Global Aerospace Partnerships — New international collaborations advanced across Asia, Australia, and Europe, including an MOU with Japan-based Cross U and a transatlantic innovation corridor with Switzerland’s CSA and Innovation Park Zurich.

• Launch and Landing Facility (LLF) Operations — Over 3,200 flight operations and 340 landings supported in 2025, including human spaceflight missions, commercial testing, and national security activities.

• Space Florida–Israel Innovation Partnership — $400,000 awarded in 2025 to advance light aircraft and autonomous traffic management technologies; $22 million invested since program inception.

• Capital Accelerator and Venture Programs — More than $2.6 million awarded since 2011, catalyzing nearly $900 million in follow-on capital and exits for Florida aerospace startups.

• Florida University Space Research Consortium — Expanded in 2025 to include FIU, USF, Florida Tech, FAMU, and FSU, strengthening statewide academic collaboration in space research.

• Space Florida Academy Program — Active in 36 school districts, engaging more than 6,000 students across 185 high schools in space-related coursework and credentialing.

• Spaceport Bonds Tax Exemption — Secured a federal policy change to make spaceport bonds tax exempt, strengthening investor confidence and accelerating space transportation development. The policy was first pushed by Sen. Tom Wright and Rep. Tyler Sirois through a Senate Memorial, and signed by Gov. DeSantis, with U.S. Sen. Ashley Moody and Rep. Neal Dunn carrying the smart change.

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Media Contact
Alayna Curry, APR
acurry@spaceflorida.gov

About Space Florida
Space Florida is where leading aerospace companies get everything they need to see their new ideas take off. As the state’s independent aerospace finance and development authority, Space Florida brings a mix of unrivaled experience, unmatched financial tools, and unbeatable location to the table by providing critical business financing opportunities for the aerospace industry, managing infrastructure investment in the state’s spaceport system, and facilitating research and development, workforce, education, and investment programs.