Space Capital Innovation Center
The new space economy isn’t a distant dream. It’s lifting off now.
Powering the New Space Economy from Greater Washington
Space is no longer the exclusive playground of governments and research labs. Thanks to private launch providers driving the price of orbit from about $60,000 per kilogram in the 1980s to roughly $150 today, a new space economy is taking off—and it’s moving fast. Connected DMV’s Space Capital Innovation Center is seizing this moment to anchor Greater Washington at the heart of the boom, uniting industry leaders, policymakers, researchers, and investors to build the partnerships, talent, and infrastructure that will propel humanity’s next giant leap.
What lies ahead goes far beyond satellites and telecom. Think in-space manufacturing that forges materials impossible to make on Earth, microgravity laboratories pushing the frontiers of medicine, resource extraction from asteroids and lunar regolith, and a permanent web of orbital stations, transport hubs, and refueling depots. These once-futuristic concepts are rapidly becoming commercial realities, and our region—home to world-class universities, cutting-edge federal agencies, and a vibrant innovation ecosystem—is uniquely positioned to lead.
A $1 TRILLION INDUSTRY IN THE MAKING
The stakes are enormous. The global space market, valued at about $600 billion today, is projected to reach $1 trillion by 2040. In 2021 alone, the U.S. space economy generated $211.6 billion in gross output, contributed $129.9 billion to GDP, and supported 360,000 private-sector jobs. Factor in commercial contracts and government procurement, and that figure rises to roughly $370 billion.
Greater Washington intends to capture a decisive share of this growth—fueling new companies, new careers, and new discoveries that will define life on Earth and beyond.
The Space Capital Innovation Center is a Launchpad for the New Space Economy.
ABOUT THE SPACE CAPITAL INNOVATION CENTER
Born from Connected DMV’s proven center-driven model, the Space Capital Innovation Center is establishing Greater Washington as a global leader in the booming space economy.
We bring together the unmatched assets of D.C., Maryland, and Virginia—federal space agencies, top universities, aerospace giants, and a deep bench of policy and tech talent—to drive innovation, growth, and international collaboration.
Approach
Our center-driven methodology fosters trust, opens doors to vital partnerships, and continuously develops valuable content and programming rich in real-world insights.
IMPACT
Through its work as a physical and programmatic hub, The Space Capital Innovation Center will attract significant regional investment, generate high-paying jobs, shape vital policy and standards, and accelerate technological breakthroughs that enhance national security and influence humanity's future in space.
Our Work
The Space Capital Innovation Center’s work is defined by a simple ambition: transform Greater Washington into the beating heart of the new space economy. We do it by convening the right people, forging durable partnerships across borders and sectors, and giving innovators the physical and intellectual runway to turn bold ideas into orbit-ready ventures.
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spaceNEXT is where the future of the space economy comes into focus. Held annually in Greater Washington, this global convening brings together visionaries from government, industry, and academia to shape what comes next—from in-space manufacturing and off-world logistics to the crossover technologies powering it all. As legacy industries like aerospace, robotics, autonomy, and data evolve into space-driven markets, spaceNEXT is the launchpad for new ideas, buyers, partnerships, and investment. If you’re building the next frontier—whether satellites or supply chains—this is where you plug in.
Save the Date for November 11th and 12th, 2025 at Capital One Hall in Tysons, Virginia.
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The Space Capital Innovation Hub is the operational engine of the Center—where bold ideas become market-shaping realities. Located in the heart of Greater Washington, the Hub is purpose-built to accelerate innovation, attract investment, and translate cutting-edge research into commercial success. It does this through three core pillars that work in tandem to power the region’s leadership in the new space economy:
1. International Collaboration:
Through the International Forum, the Hub brings together space agencies, embassies, commercial leaders, and policymakers to break down barriers to global partnership. By fostering diplomatic and industry alignment across countries and sectors, the Hub helps accelerate joint ventures, policy harmonization, and cross-border technology deployment.2. Commercialization Engine:
The Hub attracts space companies, startups, and investors to the region, serving as a launchpad for next-generation technologies. It fuels the development of scalable infrastructure, regional supply chains, and partnerships across space-adjacent sectors like aerospace, robotics, energy, autonomy, and data—positioning Greater Washington as a global commercialization hotspot.3. Talent and Workforce Development:
The Hub is building a robust talent pipeline through the Space 3.0 Academy—collaborating with regional universities, K–14 systems, industry partners, and nontraditional training providers. From experiential learning and curriculum development to competitions, hackathons, and community engagement, this pillar ensures the region has the skilled workforce needed to lead in space for generations.Together, these pillars form the backbone of the Space Capital Innovation Hub—turning potential into progress and making Greater Washington the gravitational center of the global space economy.
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Connected DMV’s global convenings are where space policy meets market momentum. These events bring together the diplomats, decision-makers, and industry leaders shaping the future of the space economy—with Greater Washington as the bridge between them.
2024 Space Summit: Held on December 3, 2024 at the Embassy of France, the Space Summit convened regional and global stakeholders to chart a collaborative course for space commercialization. The summit highlighted Greater Washington’s role as a launchpad for international space innovation and laid the groundwork for deeper public-private partnerships.
2025 Space Counselors Summit: Hosted at the Embassy of Italy, the Space Counselors Summit brought together embassy counselors, global space agency leaders, and regional partners for a high-level dialogue on the international future of space commercialization. Building on momentum from the 2024 Summit, this invite-only gathering focused on market viability, projected development timelines, national priorities, and how Greater Washington can serve as a global catalyst for next-generation space industries.
Advisory Council
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Victor Hoskins
President & CEO
Fairfax County Economic Development Authority -
Nina Albert
DMPED
District of Columbia -
Preston Dunlap
CEO
Arkenstone Ventures -
Pallabi Saboo
Founder
Harmonia Holdings -
Raphael Roettgen
Managing Partner
E2MC -
Elsayed Talaat
President and CEO
USRA -
Jacqueline Tame
Operating Partner
Playground Global -
KEVIN TONER
Vice President, Center for Government Effectiveness and Modernization
MITRE -
Paul Thomas
Global Lead, Space Technology
Accenture -
Clayton Swope
Deputy Director, Aerospace Security Project
CSIS -
Andrew Tabler
Partner
K&L Gates -
Sean Knierim
Co-Founder
SidePorch -
George Thomas
President & CEO
Connected DMV -
NASA
Ex-Officio
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AEROSPACE
Representative To Be Confirmed
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Boeing
Representative To Be Confirmed
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Rolls Royce
Representative To Be Confirmed
Our Partners
We're working with partners across industry, academia, the public sector, and network organizations to ensure that the new space economy can be built, accelerated and scaled. The works starts now.
Our regional partners include Fairfax County Economic Development Authority, the Virginia Economic Development Partnership, the Virginia Chamber of Commerce, the Deputy Mayor of the District of Columbia, the Golden Triangle Business Improvement District, and the PennWest Equity and Innovation District.
Greater Washington is the Capital of Space.
With unparalleled access to policymakers, industry giants, and research powerhouses, Greater Washington isn’t just participating in the space economy—it’s leading the charge.
WHAT SETS GREATER WASHINGTON APART
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Greater Washington is home to the nation’s top space-focused federal agencies, shaping the future of space exploration, security, and commercialization:
National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) – Goddard Space Flight Center (Maryland) & Langley Research Center (Virginia)
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) – Space Weather & Satellite Operations
National Reconnaissance Office (NRO) – Space-based intelligence and surveillance
Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Office of Commercial Space Transportation – Regulating private sector space launches
Federal Communications Commission (FCC) Space Bureau – Licensing satellite communications & orbital traffic management
Space Development Agency (SDA) – Advancing military space capabilities
Office of Space Commerce – Coordinating U.S. commercial space policy
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Some of the world’s most influential space and defense companies call the DMV home, driving next-generation spacecraft, satellite technology, and defense innovations:
Boeing
Lockheed Martin
Northrop Grumman
Raytheon Technologies
General Dynamics
MAXAR Technologies
Orbital Systems
The Aerospace Corporation
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Greater Washington is home to some of the nation’s top research institutions, advancing space science, engineering, and workforce development:
University of Maryland
George Mason University
Virginia Tech
Howard University
Join us to shape the future of space
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