The federal government is providing $11 million to NewSpace New Mexico, an industry organization aiming to connect tech entrepreneurs, employees, businesses and other commercial space stakeholders.
The money is part of a five-year partnership intermediary agreement between NewSpace and the Air Force Research Laboratory. It will be used for workforce development efforts and to put on events to foster the space industry, something the state government has made a concerted effort to grow. And with companies like Virgin Galactic and Theia Group Inc. bringing operations to New Mexico, excitement is high among those in the industry.
NewSpace CEO Casey DeRaad said during a press event Thursday that NewSpace "worked tirelessly for the last year-and-a-half" to get to this point. Her organization has dozens of members, including major corporations such as Science Applications International Corp. and smaller firms such as Descartes Labs, and is working to help "suppliers get to the buyers," according to DeRaad.
"Commercial space... it has changed so much just in the last 10 years," she said, harkening to the rise of small satellites and private industry. "And we are going to lead the new space era."
NewSpace will also lease space for a new "co-innovation" hub at the Max Q commercial development near Kirtland Air Force Base in Albuquerque. Called the Unite & Ignite Space, the facility will include shared lab, office and conference areas, she told Business First.
DeRaad said NewSpace would be the main tenant at the Max Q facility — which is trying to build a consortium of defense companies — along with small-to-medium size tech companies that would fill out the rest of the building.
Another innovation space, called the NewSpace New Mexico Launch Pad, was also announced and will have small satellite manufacturing facilities, shared equipment and workspaces. It is located at 2420 Alamo Ave. SE.
Several government officials and other stakeholders, including representatives from national defense firm BlueHalo, came to Thursday's event. U.S. Sen. Martin Heinrich (D-NM) was also present and praised NewSpace for their efforts.
"This Unite & Ignite facility, this is like the habitat for the future ecosystem of space accessibility and commercialization. And not just for the state of New Mexico but this is for the start of something big for our nation and our world" Heinrich said.
`DeRaad said she pitched the idea for an innovation hub to Heinrich's office, who then appropriated the money for NewSpace's agreement with the Air Force.
