Arizona hosts operations from major aerospace and defense companies, including Lockheed Martin, Boeing, Honeywell Aerospace, General Dynamics Mission Systems, Northrop Grumman, Raytheon, General Electric, and Virgin Galactic. These companies contribute significantly to Arizona's robust aerospace and defense sector.

The University of Arizona ranks among the top 10 U.S. universities for NASA-funded research expenditures. The university has a rich history in space exploration, dating back to the founding of the Lunar and Planetary Laboratory and its involvement in the Viking missions to Mars in the 1970s. In 2023, the university unveiled a new $85 million, 89,000-square-foot Applied Research Building, enhancing its research capabilities in space sciences.

• Aviation Maintenance: Arizona ranks 8th in the nation for aviation maintenance, with an economic impact of $2.4 billion and over 11,700 workers employed in the sector. Source: commerce.com

• Defense Contracts: In Fiscal Year 2023, Arizona received over $17 billion in federal defense spending, ranking 8th among all states. Source: azcir.org

• Optics Industry: Arizona's optics industry is valued at approximately $3 billion annually, with Southern Arizona serving as a hub for photonics research. Source: Optics.org

Arizona State University (ASU) has been a significant contributor to Mars missions since the NASA Viking missions in the 1970s. ASU's School of Earth and Space Exploration boasts over 40 instrument facilities and laboratories, participates in more than 25 active space missions, and collaborates with over 120 space industry partners.
Source: space.asu.edu

Arizona is home to one of the designated landing sites for Boeing's Starliner spacecraft. The Willcox Playa in Arizona is one of the potential landing locations for the Starliner, alongside sites in New Mexico and Utah.
Source: NASA