FILE – Technicians work on the Psyche spacecraft at the NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory Monday, April 11, 2022, in Pasadena, Calif. In a galaxy far, far away, California has a chance to stake its claim — or so the state’s lawmakers say.
Because the state is already home to several federal space facilities, including the Vandenberg Space Force Base, the Los Angeles Air Force Base, NASA facilities like the Jet Propulsion Laboratory and the Ames Research Center as well as a strong satellite manufacturing industry, lawmakers said: “California is uniquely positioned to capitalize on the rapidly growing space economy.
Since 2019, California has invested $625 million in more than 25 counties in the defense and space industry through various programs, said Newsom spokesperson Omar Rodriguez, including those that offer tax credits to businesses based in the state. In response to the lawmakers, Williams said Newsom is “committed to expanding the state’s role in our nation’s space ecosystem.”
When Congress passed last-minute funding bills earlier this month, Sen. Alex Padilla noted that the approved funding agreement that “provides no less than $300 million in funding for the Mars Sample Return Program” was “a step in the right direction” to ensure California’s leading position in the industry.“The issue is of particular importance to the thousands of aerospace jobs here in the San Fernando Valley,” said Rep. Brad Sherman, D-Sherman Oaks.