2021 Annual Report: Driving Speed and Resilience for Space

Explore the fully digital annual report, which highlights The Aerospace Corporation's accomplishments from the past year and the ongoing efforts that continue to enhance our unique value as the nation’s trusted partner for the preeminent space enterprise.
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Portrait's of Steve and Stephanie

A Letter from the Chair of the Board, and the President and CEO

The rapidly changing space domain calls for new ideas and new approaches to accelerate the pace of innovation and respond to the threats we face. This year, Aerospace charted a course forward in this dynamic landscape that maximizes our value and meets the evolving needs of our customers by building on the excellence that has defined our company throughout its history.
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Thinking Bigger with Aerospace

Bridging Connections Across the Space Enterprise

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Advancing Collaboration Across a Rapidly Evolving Space Enterprise

Aerospace is dedicated to delivering mission success from an enterprise perspective, supporting its government customers with continuous engagement and a unique perspective that spans across a broad range of mission areas.
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Students walking out of STARS facility

ACCELERATING MISSION-ENABLING INNOVATION WITH GOVERNMENT AND COMMERCIAL COLLABORATION

Aerospace is uniquely positioned to support the nation in harnessing the rapidly advancing technologies in commercial space for a more agile and resilient space enterprise.​
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Why Digital Engineering is Essential to the Future of Space

Aerospace is advancing the concepts, capabilities, and strategies that leverage an integrated digital approach, enabling opportunities to rethink what's possible when solving the hardest problems of the modern space enterprise.
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Aerospace Virtual Tours

The Aerospace Virtual Tours allow you to digitally navigate through some of our world-class laboratories to learn more about the innovative and complex work our experts do every day to advance space capabilities.
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Support Where It's Needed Most

Aerospace works side by side with our customers wherever they are, staffing more than two dozen locations across 11 states, anchored by our two largest campuses in El Segundo, California, and Chantilly, Virginia.
Mission Success
Image of rocket launching from launch pad

GPS III-5’s Successful Delivery

The Global Positioning System (GPS) III-5 mission marks the first time a previously flown booster was used for a National Security Space Launch (NSSL).
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Atlas V Launch Delivers 5th Satellite

Aerospace ensured mission success in the delivery of a vital missile warning and situational awareness satellite.
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Advancing Space Domain Awareness with ECP-Lite

Space weather can affect every mission. Aerospace engineers and scientists’ newest innovation can help identify how such hazards affect critical space systems.
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Outpacing The Threat
Image of scientists work on satellite payload

Slingshot Platform Fast-Tracks Space Systems Using Modularity and Open Standards

Aerospace's Slingshot looks to advance on-orbit experiments using modular and autonomous technologies on next-generation satellite systems.
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Space Debris Expert Discusses Long March 5B Reentry

Aerospace's Center for Orbital and Reentry Debris Studies (CORDS) answers questions about the 21-metric-ton rocket body expected to reenter Earth’s atmosphere earlier this year.
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Accelerating On-Orbit Cyber Defense for Spacecraft

Aerospace is advancing onboard machine learning functions for spacecraft as a means of providing expedited cybersecurity defenses to space systems.
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Innovation
Artist rendering of disk sat's being launched into orbit

Aerospace is Redefining the Future of Small Satellites

In response to growing interest in capable SmallSats, a team of engineers and scientists is thinking outside the (CubeSat) box with DiskSat, a new circular satellite design.
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Advancing Innovation and Collaboration Across the Space Enterprise

Aerospace hosted the 5th Annual Innovation Summit, a virtual event bringing together key technology executives to share insights and ideas on tackling some of the nation’s hardest problems.
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Aerospace Sensors Shed Light on Environmental Impact of U.S. Wildfires

Aerospace leverages hyperspectral imagery capabilities to capture valuable environmental data from areas impacted from wildfires.
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Visit the Center for Space Policy and Strategy (CSPS)

Aerospace launched a dedicated online platform that enables more intuitive access to the Center's deep library of work across a breadth of space and technology policy topics.
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SHAPING THE FUTURE
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The Value of Space Virtual Summit

As a founding member of the Space Information Sharing and Analysis Center, Aerospace convened leaders and experts to discuss key issues about the future of space infrastructure.
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Artist rendering of missile colliding with a satellite in space

Physics of war in space: how orbital dynamics constrain space-to-space engagements

While there has never been a battle in space, we can still gauge what a war in space might look like.
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The hypersonic missile debate

Adjudicating among conflicting technological assessments—deciding whether hypersonic missiles are undefendable or easier to defend, untraceable or easier to track, extremely precise or widely imprecise.
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GROWTH
Artist rendering of Perseverance Rover landing on Mars

A salute to perserverance

Aerospace is proud to have contributed to this unprecedented achievement and congratulates NASA, NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL) and the entire Perseverance team on this historic feat.
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Artist rendering of LUCY satellite exploring a asteroid in space

Readying Lucy: how aerospace supported nasa’s asteroid investigator for space

Over a 12-year period, the spacecraft will travel to the Trojans—and one main belt asteroid—to further piece together the history of the solar system.
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Picture of Osiris Rex being loaded into a fairing

Inside nasa’s groundbreaking osiris-rex asteroid sampling mission

NASA has collected a sample from Bennu, an asteroid that may offer scientists a wealth of insight into the makings of the early solar system.
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The Brightest Minds of Today

Solving the nation’s hardest problems means recruiting and retaining the brightest minds available. Our collective expertise spans from math, chemistry, and physics to mechanical, aeronautical, and electrical engineering, drawn from private industry, academia, and government talent pools.

More than two-thirds of Aerospace’s technical staff hold advanced degrees, with more than 800 holding a Ph.D. in their respective fields.

Commitment to Our People

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Our Commitment to Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI)

Aerospace is actively monitoring the progress of DEI initiatives efforts designed to ensure inclusivity and diversity of representation.
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Fostering a Culture of Trust, Inclusion and Belonging

Aerospace continues to invest in opportunities that enhance our employees’ abilities to bring their best selves to do their best work.
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The State of DEI

Aerospace has made progress on its DEI initiatives while transparently documenting successes and laying the groundwork for improvement.
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  • In 2021, Aerospace continued to shape the space and ground system architectures of the future, supporting our nation in strengthening its security while laying the foundation for a new era of the space enterprise.
    In 2021, Aerospace continued to shape the space and ground system architectures of the future, supporting our nation in strengthening its security while laying the foundation for a new era of the space enterprise.
  • The Honorable Stephanie L. O’Sullivan was elected chair of The Aerospace Corporation Board of Trustees, effective June 11, 2021.
    The Honorable Stephanie L. O’Sullivan was elected chair of The Aerospace Corporation Board of Trustees, effective June 11, 2021.
  • Located on Aerospace's Chantilly campus, the Payload Characterization and Environments (PACE) Laboratory performs environmental testing of SmallSat payloads.
    Located on Aerospace's Chantilly campus, the Payload Characterization and Environments (PACE) Laboratory performs environmental testing of SmallSat payloads.
  • Aerospace remains committed to ensuring the safety and well-being of our people, adapting appropriate risk-reduction practices against COVID-19 throughout the year while continuing to deliver on the mission.
    Aerospace remains committed to ensuring the safety and well-being of our people, adapting appropriate risk-reduction practices against COVID-19 throughout the year while continuing to deliver on the mission.
  • Aerospace’s newly renovated xLab includes state-of-the-art laboratories and the Prototype Design Center, which enables our technical experts to better collaborate on advancing space technology.
    Aerospace’s newly renovated xLab includes state-of-the-art laboratories and the Prototype Design Center, which enables our technical experts to better collaborate on advancing space technology.
  • Aerospace's Optical Communication Laboratory works on validating next-generation laser transmitters and detectors. Optical communication is smaller, lighter, uses less power, and provides increased security and much higher data rates.
    Aerospace's Optical Communication Laboratory works on validating next-generation laser transmitters and detectors. Optical communication is smaller, lighter, uses less power, and provides increased security and much higher data rates.
  • Distinguished guests, including members of the Congressional staff and Space Systems Command, visit the Aerospace campus for a guided tour of our state-of-the-art facilities.
    Distinguished guests, including members of the Congressional staff and Space Systems Command, visit the Aerospace campus for a guided tour of our state-of-the-art facilities.
  • The construction team celebrate a significant milestone, placing the last beam on Aerospace’s second facility in Colorado Springs, Colorado, which is on track for completion in 2022.
    The construction team celebrate a significant milestone, placing the last beam on Aerospace’s second facility in Colorado Springs, Colorado, which is on track for completion in 2022.
  • Fostering a culture of trust, inclusion, and belonging at Aerospace empowers our people to bring their best selves to collaborate and create innovative solutions for our customers.
    Fostering a culture of trust, inclusion, and belonging at Aerospace empowers our people to bring their best selves to collaborate and create innovative solutions for our customers.
  • Aerospace continued its partnership with TechCrunch, a leading tech and startup media organization, to convene opportunities that connect leaders and experts from government and commercial space, such as TC Sessions: Space 2021.
    Aerospace continued its partnership with TechCrunch, a leading tech and startup media organization, to convene opportunities that connect leaders and experts from government and commercial space, such as TC Sessions: Space 2021.
  • Aerospace’s Cooperative Autonomous Vehicle Ecosystem laboratory works on advancing technologies that will be essential to future on-orbit operations for space missions.
    Aerospace’s Cooperative Autonomous Vehicle Ecosystem laboratory works on advancing technologies that will be essential to future on-orbit operations for space missions.
  • The Space Analysis and Collaboration Center in Colorado Springs enables space operators to leverage significant Aerospace expertise and capabilities in support of addressing space domain challenges.
    The Space Analysis and Collaboration Center in Colorado Springs enables space operators to leverage significant Aerospace expertise and capabilities in support of addressing space domain challenges.
  • The Environmental Testing Laboratory offers acquisition support in assessing the durability of a wide range of components including optics, optical coatings, and electronics.
    The Environmental Testing Laboratory offers acquisition support in assessing the durability of a wide range of components including optics, optical coatings, and electronics.
  • Aerospace’s Non-Destructive Evaluation Laboratory is one of the most advanced laboratories of its kind in the country, equipping our experts to take on the toughest technical challenges, often on tight deadlines, to support space missions.
    Aerospace’s Non-Destructive Evaluation Laboratory is one of the most advanced laboratories of its kind in the country, equipping our experts to take on the toughest technical challenges, often on tight deadlines, to support space missions.
  • The Mt. Wilson Aerospace Facility for Integrated Optical Tests provides a unique testbed to support a wide range of optical experiments, including atmospheric laser propagation, atmospheric scattering, laser communications, and other laser applications.
    The Mt. Wilson Aerospace Facility for Integrated Optical Tests provides a unique testbed to support a wide range of optical experiments, including atmospheric laser propagation, atmospheric scattering, laser communications, and other laser applications.
  • The Daily Atmospheric Ionospheric Limb Imager will study the molecular oxygen density of Earth’s upper atmosphere, providing scientists with critical data to better understand the ionosphere.
    The Daily Atmospheric Ionospheric Limb Imager will study the molecular oxygen density of Earth’s upper atmosphere, providing scientists with critical data to better understand the ionosphere.
  • Aerospace has an extensive history of applying its technical expertise to the propulsion science field, and continues to innovate the technologies that propel space launch and travel forward.
    Aerospace has an extensive history of applying its technical expertise to the propulsion science field, and continues to innovate the technologies that propel space launch and travel forward.
  • Aerospace engineer Rachel Morford was officially installed as the FY22 President of the Society of Women Engineers during the fall. She, along with the incoming SWE Board of Trustees, was honored during a ceremony held on Aerospace’s El Segundo campus.
    Aerospace engineer Rachel Morford was officially installed as the FY22 President of the Society of Women Engineers during the fall. She, along with the incoming SWE Board of Trustees, was honored during a ceremony held on Aerospace’s El Segundo campus.
  • Thank you for visiting Aerospace's 2021 Annual Report.
    Thank you for visiting Aerospace's 2021 Annual Report.