The Empire Space Roadmap serves as both an explainer and a strategic vision for how New York can build a thriving space ecosystem. It outlines what Empire Space does, why this work matters to the state, and where we’re headed. As the global space economy accelerates, states that build integrated ecosystems—connecting research, investment, talent, and industry—will lead the next generation of innovation. This paper lays out how New York can join their ranks.
At Empire Space, our mission is to connect, document, and grow New York’s space ecosystem. Here’s how we do it:
Census of Stakeholders: We document all entities involved in the New York space industry—companies, investors, schools, programs, and groups—to understand the landscape and identify gaps in collaboration, funding, and geographic coverage (e.g., regions or sectors that lack representation or connectivity).
Building Connections: We bring these stakeholders together through events and initiatives, fostering collaboration and shared opportunities.
Research and Problem-Solving: By studying New York’s space industry and its challenges, we develop and propose solutions to address these issues.
Community Engagement: From research dissemination to community-building events, we aim to create a unified and thriving statewide space ecosystem.
Our mission, as outlined in Empire Space’s founding charter, is to expand knowledge, advocacy, and opportunity across New York’s space sector—bridging education, civic institutions, and private enterprise to unlock the state’s full potential. We do this work because a strong space ecosystem benefits all New Yorkers—driving high-tech job creation, attracting investment, and strengthening the state’s leadership in innovation. For us, it’s about ensuring that New York remains not just a global finance capital, but a space capital as well.
Strengths to Build On
New York has a solid foundation to grow its space ecosystem:
Finance Leadership: New York is the #2 space investor in the U.S. by most metrics, with 13% of venture capital firms and 37% of private equity firms in the space sector based here.
Early-Stage Talent Pipeline:
New York is home to top-ranked STEM high schools like Stuyvesant and Bronx Science. Also hosts world-class universities including Columbia and Cornell producing aerospace/mechanical engineers and driving academic research impact.
Challenges in the Current Ecosystem
Scale of Space Companies: New York ranks 15th for NASA’s economic impact—far below its #2 position in space investing.
Fragmentation: There is little connectivity between space companies, talent, and investors in the state.
Example: Companies and investors often meet in other states like D.C. to connect.
Connecting Disparate Groups: Building awareness and relationships between private companies, investors, and talent to foster a cohesive ecosystem.
Advocating for a Friendlier Business Environment: Working with legislators to improve policies, incentives, and support for space companies.
Sidebar: Nuances of “Strengths in Finance and Talent”
Finance: While many space-focused investment firms are headquartered in New York, their space experts often work outside the state, creating a disconnect.
Talent:
Talent in New York is early-stage, with fewer experienced professionals compared to states like California.
Ensuring early talent integrates into local space companies is critical to developing a robust talent ecosystem.
With more space companies, New York can attract and retain experienced professionals.
Leveraging non-space talent already in the state for space-related roles is another key opportunity.
Metrics
Public Perception: With no major “center of gravity” or large space company, New York has near-zero public awareness as a space hub.
NASA Economic Impact: Ranked 15th in the U.S., reflecting modest space company activity in the state.
DoD Spending: Ranked 5th nationally, although this is skewed heavily toward non-space defense spending.
Other Metrics: While we lack definitive rankings, metrics like space industry output, tax revenue, and employment need further analysis.
How to Improve Metrics
Target Key Focus Areas: Efforts to grow NASA’s economic impact or DoD space-related spending in New York could be productive but limited in scope.
Focus on Large Companies: Attracting and growing large space companies in the state would have a more transformative impact on multiple metrics.
Why It’s Hard to Court Companies to Come to New York
Attracting large companies to New York has historically been challenging. The Amazon HQ2 saga is a prime example of this difficulty. Amazon came close to selecting Long Island City for its second headquarters, negotiating incentives and logistics with the state. However, significant public and political opposition derailed the plans, with critics citing concerns over gentrification, corporate welfare, and lack of community involvement. Later, Amazon stated that workforce considerations also played a key role, noting that Virginia offered a better talent fit for their needs. Many other companies looking to expand their operations often don’t even consider New York due to similar challenges. Even if they do, they rarely reach the negotiation stage Amazon achieved.
A Better Approach: Grow Companies Here
Instead of courting large companies to relocate, New York’s better opportunity lies in growing its own space companies from the ground up. By addressing core challenges—like access to talent and funding—Empire Space is focused on ensuring that homegrown companies can scale successfully and remain in the state. Creating a strong local ecosystem will organically attract larger companies over time.
Lessons from Missed Opportunities
Launcher (2021):
Founded in New York, Launcher moved to California citing access to talent, supply chain, and proximity to customers like the Space Force. After relocating, it grew from 15 to 100+ employees, expanded to a 100,000-square-foot facility, and was acquired by Vast. This success could have occurred in New York with better support.
Honeybee Robotics (2022):
Honeybee left New York to align with NASA and Blue Origin hubs. Its integration into Blue Origin’s operations underscores the loss of a major player in the state.
Northrop Grumman:
Northrop Grumman’s workforce on Long Island was significantly reduced as part of broader consolidation efforts. This is a case of a company plateauing and shifting operations elsewhere.
Why Companies Leave
Talent: Companies often cite the lack of experienced space professionals in New York.
Funding: Despite New York’s strong finance base, companies struggle to connect with investors locally.
Support Growing Companies: By addressing their challenges—talent access, funding connectivity, and legislative support—we can keep companies in New York.
Create a Center of Gravity: Building and retaining large companies will establish a core around which New York’s space ecosystem can grow.
We’re turning these priorities into action:
Talent: Connecting schools, universities, and companies to strengthen local hiring pipelines and keep skilled graduates in-state.
Funding: Building bridges between space founders and New York’s deep finance base—venture capital, private equity, and institutional investors—to close the gap between capital and innovation.
Policy: Advocating for space-friendly legislation and incentives, such as targeted tax credits, procurement opportunities, and research funding, to make New York a more competitive home for space companies.
Together, these efforts form the groundwork for a sustainable, scalable, and self-reinforcing ecosystem where space businesses can grow and stay rooted in New York.
While growing and retaining companies is central, there are multiple pathways to elevate New York’s position in the national space economy:
Grow and Retain Companies: Ensure that local startups scale and remain in-state, anchoring the ecosystem.
Develop Specialized Infrastructure: Explore the feasibility of in-state space infrastructure such as testing facilities, manufacturing hubs, or partnerships with regional launch or astronaut training centers. (See Empire Space Report: “New York Lags Key States in the Race to Space” for comparative examples from key states, including Florida, Texas, and California models.)
Enhance Academic and Civic Institutions: Expand space-related research, degree programs, and collaborations among universities, observatories, and science centers to strengthen the educational foundation.
Close Talent and Finance Gaps: Improve connectivity between technical talent and capital to address the main reasons companies leave.
Policy and Awareness: Advocate for targeted state incentives and boost New York’s visibility as a space hub.
Leverage Success Stories: Publicize growth and innovation happening here to attract more investment, partners, and media attention.
By pursuing these parallel tracks, New York can transform its current strengths into long-term competitive advantage.
New York’s space ecosystem has incredible potential. By solving the challenges and connecting the strengths we already have, Empire Space is paving the way for New York to become a top-five state for space innovation, investment, and impact. We will continue to engage stakeholders in following through on these action items and gathering new data to refine our priorities and define the best path forward.