Reaching Space from Boulder
Boulder's aerospace industry has grown its aerospace workforce by 4% across roughly 50 industry locations.
In this section...
Bi-Annual Feature
ThinkOrbital Flight-1: World's first autonomous in-space welding
MAY | 2024
Think orbital makes a significant leap forward in space innovation, performing the world's first-ever autonomous in-space weld project.
Aerospace in Boulder
The aerospace industry is deeply rooted in Boulder and the surrounding area, dating back to the formation of Ball Aerospace and Technologies Corporation here in 1956. Ball Aerospace was acquired by BAE Systems in 2023 and serves as an important anchor, serving civil, commercial, and military markets.
| Aerospace in the Boulder MSA | |
|---|---|
| Number of Firms | Map the Top 50 | 312 |
| Number of Employees | 9631 |
| Employment Concentration (1.0=US average) | 3.4 |
Source: QCEW 2026 Q2 via Lightcast
Advantages for Aerospace
Boulder offers many local advantages that make it a top location for aerospace, including:
The ability to recruit and retain highly-educated talent.
The Boulder MSA is among the most highly educated cities in the nation with 63% of residents age 25+ having completed a bachelor's degree or higher (US average 35%).
Proximity to the University of Colorado Boulder.
CU-Boulder’s Aerospace Engineering Sciences program ranks among the top 15 in the nation and receives more NASA funding than any other public university in the United States.
Proximity to federally funded laboratories doing research in aerospace.
Several of Boulder’s federally funded laboratories are engaged in research directly tied to aerospace, include CASA, LASP, NCA, NIST and NOAA.
Strong entrepreneurial and innovative ecosystem.
Boulder ranks as one of the most entrepreneurial cities in the United States with talented individuals driving innovation in all industries, including aerospace.
Access to support and service companies in Boulder.
Aerospace partners within the Boulder community support the advancement of the industry. Both the Colorado Nanotechnology Alliance and Colorado Photonics Industry Association are also headquartered in Boulder.
Aerospace in Metro Denver
Colorado is a national leader in aerospace, bringing together global companies, innovative startups, research institutions, and federal agencies to advance space exploration, defense, satellite technology, and advanced manufacturing. With a highly skilled workforce and a collaborative innovation ecosystem, the state continues to drive breakthroughs that shape the future of aerospace.
University of Colorado Boulder
Through its nationally recognized Aerospace Engineering Sciences program, the University of Colorado Boulder receives more NASA funding than any other public university in the United States. The vibrant community of engineers and scientists tackle challenges in aerospace technology and science, partnering with private industry and focusing on:
- Aerospace Engineering Systems
- Astrodynamics & Satellite Navigation Systems
- Bioastronautics
- Remote Sensing, Earth & Space Sciences
CU Aerospace Ventures is a collaboration among aerospace-related departments, institutes, centers, and industry partners to create knowledge and develop new technologies to observe, measure and better understand Earth and space. CU AeroSpace Ventures focuses on:
- Unmanned and autonomous aircraft
- Small satellites
- Earth and space sensors