Global space leaders gather in Colorado Springs
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The Axiom Space company AxEMU suit. Photo: Glenn Wallace/Axios
The 41st annual Space Symposium in Colorado Springs is pulling in two dozen global space agencies, hundreds of aerospace companies and leaders from NASA, the U.S. Space Force and the Air Force.
Why it matters: The future of U.S. aerospace is uncertain — as NASA celebrates Artemis II amid cuts, private companies are pushing ambitious plans, talk of weapons in space is growing, and Space Command is exiting the Springs.
Follow the money: Colorado has a major stake in aerospace — leading the nation in per-capita industry jobs — while the annual symposium pumps an estimated $16 million into the Springs' economy, per the Colorado Springs Gazette.
Between the lines: Space is becoming more accessible — and more crowded, a theme echoed across the symposium, with companies such as SpaceX and Blue Origin competing in an expanding global marketplace.
- Space agencies from 24 countries are attending the event, each with its own goals.
- More than 400 exhibitor companies and agencies are filling multiple halls at The Broadmoor, and more than 1,500 companies registered to attend.
The shift is fueling more open discussion of space militarization.
- "The customer says, 'I need capabilities in space, and I need them now,'" Lockheed Martin VP of mission strategy Tim Lynch said Monday. "Our adversaries are not waiting for us to catch up."
What they're saying: The symposium is one of the rare forums where military leaders speak candidly, and a marquee stage where aerospace CEOs unveil major announcements.
- The event is "like no other … on the planet," CEO Jonathan Cirtain said before hyping the new spacesuit from his company, Axiom Space.
- The Space Foundation, which runs the symposium, bills it as having the highest level of senior government and military leaders "sharing groundbreaking statements with critical new direction, strategy and information."
What's next: Gov. Jared Polis will hold a press conference at the symposium on Wednesday morning to announce an aerospace company's expansion into El Paso County.
- The symposium runs through Thursday.