California Space Enterprise Strategic Plan Released

CSA PRESS RELEASE

The California Space Authority (CSA) today announced the California Space Enterprise Strategic Plan 2010-2012. Developed collaboratively by approximately 200 senior level and executive space stakeholders representing approximately 100 industry, government, academia and nonprofit organizations throughout California, the Plan showcases the direction of the industry. It also serves as a timely informational resource to enhance awareness among federal and state policy makers as well as the general public.

The California Space Enterprise Strategic Plan 2010-2012, while facilitated by CSA, is a statewide, space enterprise stakeholder strategic plan. It is meant to be implemented by space enterprise stakeholders throughout the state, collectively. To view the entire plan, go to:

https://www.californiaspaceauthority.org/images/pdfs/strat-plan-2010.pdf

Five critical issues form the foundation for this new plan.

1. Building Public Appreciation and Policymaker Support,
2. Growing California/U.S. Competitiveness in a Challenging Business/Economic Climate,
3. Sustaining and Strengthening the California Space Industrial Base,
4. Planning Challenges and Investment Risk of Today’s Fast-Changing Environment for Space Companies, and
5. Attracting and Retaining an Appropriately Trained 21st Century Space Workforce. Each area is addressed with recommendations that upon implementation would ensure California’s continued space enterprise leadership.

“The goal of the Plan is to highlight California’s unique network of space enterprise capabilities, including cutting-edge technologies advanced by research and private venture efforts. Perhaps more importantly, it identifies and addresses impediments to ongoing space innovation and development,” stated Andrea Seastrand, CSA’s Executive Director. “The Plan is a road map to generate high-paying jobs in California, attract and retain talent that catalyzes growth, inspire our youth, attract and retain space business, enhance the many benefits Californians enjoy as a result of space activities, and solidify space as California’s competitive frontier.”

The Plan also has an economic impact component incorporated within it which reveals that the California space enterprise community alone, when extracted from the greater aerospace industry, exceeds $93 billion, according to a study of 2009 data conducted by AT Kearney. It supports 450,000 direct and indirect jobs statewide and represents 22 percent of the $174 billion global space marketplace. And, the average aerospace worker receives a salary of approximately $60,000 per year.

“California’s space enterprise has a greater impact on revenue and jobs than any other
industry, including entertainment, tourism and agriculture,” Seastrand continued. “While
many tend to think of the space enterprise community largely as rocket scientists and
defense contractors, it is important to note applications from space-based technologies
are widely used throughout many other industries. Crop infestation, water use monitoring, oceanic observation, and environmental studies are all current uses of space capabilities. Implementation of the California Space Enterprise Strategic Plan 2010-2012 will keep our state and its space enterprise workforce on the cutting edge of these sought-after consumer products and services while maintaining our national security leadership.”