The Space Report 2025 Quarter 1: E-magazine
U.S. Space Employment Data
The Space Report offers labor market insights into key space sectors, employment and salary trends, and tracks workforce trends in civil space and national security, providing insights and expectations of where U.S. private and government space employment is heading.
Mass production drives demand for space workers
A shift to mass production for many space firms has contributed to a talent crunch, with help-wanted postings up across the United States and 18 of 19 firms answering a survey saying they're looking for workers. The situation could ease, with more students entering skilled manufacturing trades and states with a surplus of manufacturing workings luring space employers.
SNAPSHOT: A look at space workforce hiring
Two-page chart-driven presentation of highlights of SWFT/Space Foundation survey
Space Jobs of the Future
Throughout the space industry, new disciplines and workforce skills are being identified as crucial to ensuring ongoing success in a number of sectors. NASA and congressional committees have recently issued reports on select fields and emerging areas of specialization that will be needed in coming years and the educational changes that will be necessary to ensure a ready workforce is available.
Space Force Language Learning
The U.S. Air Force Culture and Language Center (AFCLC) in Alabama has greeted a previously undiscovered workforce in ever-increasing numbers: Space Force Guardians. In a defense sector that once had its lips sealed, American space troops communicate with a broader global community – requiring more comprehensive language skills. This comes as leaders ease secrecy in favor of robust information exchanges with allies and partners.
Colorado's Front Range Has a Leading Place in Space
Colorado is the nation's largest per capita aerospace employer, but cities along the Front Range each fill a unique niche in the space industry. Denver is a hub for civil space whereas Colorado Springs has a strong military focus. There are also multiple up and coming cities, including along the I-36 corridor and Castle Rock. This study examines the trajectory of local space economies, including the number of companies and workers, how local governments are incentivizing the growth of the local space economy.
Military Sidebar
Explaining the military presence and history in the area (NORAD, Space Operations Command, Space Force Deltas, etc.)
Space Force takes $50 million cut for '25, NASA stays flat
America's first yearlong continuing resolution became law March 15, locking in most federal space agencies at 2024 spending levels for the 2025 fiscal year, which ends Sept. 30, while imposing a $50 million cut from the Space Force's 2024 spending plan. Space Force leaders have called for more money to meet growing threats.
Nation in Review: New Zealand
New Zealand space companies are investing in innovative technologies ranging from new launch capabilities to downstream products leveraging satellite data. The nation's government is growing the primarily commercial domestic space sector through new regulatory policies, international partnerships, and targeted investments.
Nation in Review: Sweden
Sweden is becoming an increasingly important actor within the international space community. On March 7, 2024, Sweden became the 32nd member nation of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO). In April, Sweden joined the Artemis Accords as the 38th signatory. As Sweden increases its space activities, its contributions are expected to enhance European collective security and cooperation with its allies abroad.
Readying the Vast space station
Vast Space is poised to become the first operator of a private space station. This piece details the patents the company has developed, the challenges and latest operational expectations while also providing updates of the other private efforts underway.
Robotic station designed for growth, changing needs
While other firms pursue future crewed space stations for orbit, Space startup Arkisys is developing a fully robotic home in the stars. With the first component launch set for 2027, Arkisys wants the upgradable station to be a permanent hub for work including maintenance for satellites and in-space manufacturing.
CONTRIBUTOR ARTICLE: U.S. spaceports: A successful future requires action now
TSR contributors David Hook and Chris Sarisky examine the issues around the U.S. spaceport infrastructure and funding needs, stressing that changes are needed as a matter of national security.
Microgravity research pioneers the future of medicine
Redwire and others are partnering with pharmaceutical companies to conduct research in space that could revolutionize the industry. The microgravity environment allows for uniform crystal development, the 3D printing of organs, and more, providing valuable findings that cannot be obtained on Earth. Recent milestones include the first printing of a meniscus, the creation a batch of insulin crystal "seeds" that can help create more uniform doses on Earth, and a protein discovery that could kill cancer cells while creating a less toxic cell environment.
CONTRIBUTOR ARTICLE
Attorneys Skip Smith and Laura Cummings review the regulatory agencies, key policies and the leadership and space priorities of the 119th Congress.
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The Space Report 2025, Quarter 1: e-magazine