First Space Summit

Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham Kicks Off First Space Valley Summit

Yesterday, Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham kicked off New Mexico’s first Space Valley Summit, an event that brought together the federal and state leaders of New Mexico’s space industry. Facilitated by Dan Hicks, Executive Director of the NM Spaceport Authority, New Mexico State University Chancellor Dr. Dan Arivzu, and Dr. Thomas Cooley, Chief Scientist Air Force Research Laboratory, Space Vehicles Directorate, the group agreed to work together as a “collaboratory” to foster coordination, collaboration, and resource-sharing. The Collaboratory will be a forum in which parties propose, consider and refine ideas, concepts and strategies that promote the development of aerospace business and economy in New Mexico; partner to obtain grants, funding, and sponsorships and execute research, development, testing and other activities within their respective expertise.

Approximately 50 people participated in this historic event including leaders from Los Alamos National Laboratory, Sandia National Laboratory, Air Force Research Laboratory, New Mexico State University, New Mexico Institute of Mining & Technology, University of New Mexico, White Sands Missile Range, Kirtland Air Force Base, New Mexico National Guard, the Space Rapid Capabilities Office, the New Mexico Space Grant Consortium, New Space New Mexico, Professional Aerospace Contractors Association of New Mexico, and Virgin Galactic. Also present were representatives from Sen. Tom Udall’s office, Sen. Martin Heinrich’s office, and Congresswoman Deb Haaland’s office.

Governor Lujan Grisham named the space industry as one of her nine economic growth sectors for the state. She was excited to see such a dynamic group of New Mexico leaders come together for the first time committed to advancing the space industry, expected to exceed $3 trillion in the next 20 years. New Mexico is uniquely poised to meet the needs of this growing sector, with an established space launch and testing venue at Spaceport America, world-class universities and national research laboratories, and leading defense and aerospace development agencies.

"New Mexico is truly breaking barriers in the space industry," Gov. Lujan Grisham said. "If it can be done anywhere – not just in the country, but in the world – it can be done better and quicker here.”

Hicks echoed her sentiment. “The objective of this summit was to unite New Mexico’s federal and state agencies in support of our nation’s space sector,” he said. “We did just that and set up a structure to move forward.”