ARIZONA SPACEBRIEFING
ARIZONA SPACE BRIEFING ISSUE No. 01
$116M TO
TUCSON IN
ONE DAY.
On Sept 22, Raytheon won $105.6M for AMRAAM missile parts and Sargent Aerospace & Defense won $10.9M for Navy submarine valve repair.
U of A to build two of Lazuli's three instruments
The Space Commission's plan for the Legislature
Blueprint Conversations 001, and what's next Dec 3
THE NUMBERS Arizona Space
Blueprint, 2026
THE NEXT
CONNECTION
ARIZONA NEEDS
What surfaced at Blueprint Conversations, funding dates to know, and a practical way to get involved.
Welcome to the first Arizona Space Briefing. We’re bringing together the developments, opportunities and people shaping the state’s space economy, with a focus on what you can do next. This issue starts with a question from Blueprint Conversations: how do we make it easier for the organizations building here to find one another?
THING
ARIZONA’S CAPABILITIES
NEED CLEARER PATHS
TO CUSTOMERS
At Blueprint Conversations 001 on Sep 22, 2026, at the University of Arizona in Scottsdale, the discussion returned to a familiar problem: a company can need a capability that already exists nearby and still struggle to find it. The report draws on university and industry perspectives, including those of Dr. Walter Harris of the University of Arizona Space Institute and Nicholas Busch of Radiall USA.
A testing facility is more useful when a company knows it is there. Research moves closer to commercialization when someone can identify a customer. A startup has a better chance of reaching a larger program when it knows the right supplier, prime contractor or program contact.
Participants described gaps between university facilities and local companies, researchers and commercial customers, startups and prime contractors, and entrepreneurs and the people who can help them navigate funding and procurement.
THE PRACTICAL CHALLENGE:
Knowing that a program or facility exists is only the first step. Companies also need to understand fit, requirements and who to contact.
THE RESPONSE:
The Arizona Space Economy Coalition is intended to help organizations see who is here, identify shared needs and build projects around the gaps. Its work connects academia, industry, government, investors and suppliers.
Tell us one capability your organization offers and one connection that would help you move forward.
Those specifics give the community something useful to work with.
OPPORTU-
NITIES
An approaching deadline, a federal funding window and two programs to watch. Review the linked requirements before preparing an application.
CHALLENGE CLOSES
FORECAST
ARIZONA INNOVATION
CHALLENGE
FUNDING
Arizona Innovation Challenge — applications close Sep 28, 2026. The fall round focuses on software-as-a-service startups. Awardees receive $100,000 in non-dilutive funding after completing required milestones. The published criteria include incorporation after August 2023, a working product used by real customers, and $5,000–$50,000 in monthly recurring revenue. Space software founders should check the full criteria.
REVIEW THE AIC REQUIREMENTS ANDAPPLICATION →
AMERICA MAKES
America Makes — prepare for upcoming calls. The current forecast lists a $52 million additive manufacturing qualification call for September, followed in October by a $5.7 million AI-for- material-allowables call and a $35 million automated welding call. These are forecasts: the institute currently lists no active calls. Manufacturers and research teams can use the topic list to identify potential collaborators while awaiting the formal requirements.
SEE THE AMERICA MAKES PROJECT-CALLFORECAST →
NSF SBIR/STTR
NSF SBIR/STTR — Nov 4, 2026, is a key deadline for qualifying applicants. NSF permits certain holders of unused Project Pitch invitations and eligible Phase I awardees to submit under its published transition provisions. Check your invitation or award date against the official criteria; this is not an open deadline for every company.
REVIEW NSF’S ELIGIBILITY AND SOLICITATIONS →NASA SBIR/STTR
NASA SBIR/STTR — follow the individual appendices. NASA now releases Phase I topics through appendices to a Broad Agency Announcement. Each opportunity needs its own review of scope and timing. The BAA’s overall validity period should not be treated as a blanket application deadline.
FOLLOW NASA’S 2026 INFORMATION HUB →SPACE CONGRESS
2027
Space Congress 2027 — partnerships are open for the gathering on Apr 20, 2027, at the Hyatt Regency in downtown Phoenix. Explore the partnership options or contact taryn@spacerising.org.
EXPLORE THE PARTNERSHIP OPTIONS →AROUND THE STATE
Central and southern Arizona, with I-10 between the Phoenix metro and Tucson.
VIRGIN GALACTIC’S NEXT
FLIGHT-TEST MILESTONE.
In its August business update, the company said it expects a captive- carry flight in October and its first new spaceship to enter commercial service in February 2027. For Arizona’s aerospace community, this is a production and testing program to follow.
READ VIRGIN GALACTIC’S UPDATE →MORE MANUFACTURING
CAPACITY AT ALBERS
AEROSPACE.
A 30,000-square-foot facility became operational in July, according to the Chamber of Southern Arizona. The expansion is expected to add 24 jobs over three years. Its capabilities include precision machining, fabrication and complex assemblies—the kind of supplier capacity the Blueprint conversation highlighted.
READ THE EXPANSION ANNOUNCEMENT →Captive-carry flight
expected
First new spaceship in
commercial service
Facility operational
since July
Expected over three
years
MAKE YOUR CAPABILITIES
EASY TO ACT ON.
Before a potential customer can make an introduction, they need to know what you do, who you do it for and why they should trust you. A useful opening sentence follows this pattern:
Follow it with a result you can substantiate and one clear next step.
If your team has a milestone to share, Space Rising can help with a single communications project: an announcement, company feature, capability statement or LinkedIn content. Bring us what you’re working on and who you want to reach. Get in touch: angelica@spacerising.org .
ADD YOUR
ORGANIZATION’S
SUPPORT.
The Arizona Space Economy Coalition is inviting organizations to become Founding Supporting Organizations. Signing expresses support for a coordinated statewide effort and interest in participating where opportunities fit your mission.
LEARN ABOUT THE COALITION AND PARTICIPATINGORGANIZATIONS →
FOR A FUTURE MEMBER SPOTLIGHT, TELL US
THREE THINGS:
Send your answers to angelica@spacerising.org . We’ll follow up before publishing a profile.
ON THE CALENDAR
Which connection would make the biggest difference to your work right now: a research partner, a testing facility, a supplier, a customer or help finding the right funding program?
Email angelica@spacerising.org with one specific need. On LinkedIn, you can also leave it in the comments so others can respond.
COALITION. FORWARD THIS BRIEFING TO
SOMEONE BUILDING IN ARIZONA. JOIN THE COALITION →
SOURCES AND FURTHER READING
001_Micro Blueprint_Space Coordination; Arizona Commerce Authority; America Makes; NSF; NASA; Virgin Galactic; Chamber of Southern Arizona; Arizona Space Economy Coalition; Space Congress.