Aerospace Industry Guide

There’s a reason Houston is Space City U.S.A. Home to N.A.S.A.’s Johnson Space Center, and a diverse network of research and education organizations with ties to aerospace technology, the Houston region is a worldwide leader in the aerospace industry.

Propelled by President George W. Bush’s A Renewed Spirit of Discovery: The President’s Vision for U.S. Space Exploration, an ambitious initiative that sets the tone for the next generation of space exploration, the Houston region is poised to further capitalize on its success as an aerospace leader.

All around the region, organizations collaborate together and with N.A.S.A. to keep pushing the windows of discovery. Their research and developments led to the technologies that power our cell phones, satellite televisions, cordless tools, smoke detectors—even tiny heart valves. Life saving and life-enhancing technologies emerge every day from areospace research.

And Houston is leading the way.

Aerospace Facts:

  • Houston is home to the Johnson Space Center, N.A.S.A.’s largest research and development facility, employing nearly 3,000 federal civil service workers and more than 14,000 contract personnel
  • The MicroMed DeBakey Ventricular Assist Device (VAD), a pump that allows patients to survive until a heart donor can be found, was developed through a collaborative effort between N.A.S.A. and the doctors at the DeBakey Heart Center at Baylor College of Medicine
  • The University of Houston College of Engineering administers an interdisciplinary graduate program in aerospace engineering that offers master’s and doctoral degrees
  • Rice University’s Department of Space Physics and Astronomy carries out collaborations with N.A.S.A. on satellites, space craft and the Hubble space telescope
  • The University of Houston - Clear Lake offers the nation’s first academic program for management of advanced space technology, human performance and computer science applications in space

Aerospace Downloadable PDF Fact Sheet

The Boeing Company Case Study:

Boeing NASA Systems, headquartered in Houston, is a leading advocate of the Vision for Space Exploration and a global leader in human space flight systems supporting NASA and its Johnson Space Center. Boeing is the largest NASA contractor, a major Space Shuttle program partner of Houston-based United Space Alliance and prime contractor for the International Space Station.

Since the beginning of the Space Age, Boeing has designed, developed and built human and robotic space systems. Its heritage spans all human space flight to include the X-15, Mercury, Gemini, Apollo, Skylab, Apollo/Soyuz, Space Shuttle and International Space Station programs. In partnership with Northrop Grumman, Boeing is working with NASA on the Crew Exploration Vehicle to take humans back to the Moon.

Boeing NASA Systems employs approximately 2,500 highly skilled men and women in the Houston area. These employees form teams that cover a range of technical disciplines in engineering and information systems, supplemented by expertise in areas such as business management, communications, human resources and business development. 71 percent of Boeing NASA Systems team members have bachelor and/or advanced university degrees needed to support America’s space program.

Boeing NASA Systems also partners with about 1450 suppliers and subcontractors from around the nation, including 100 from the Houston area. These partnerships are an integral part of Boeing’s strategy to bring the “best of industry” to bear in support of its NASA customer.

According to Brewster Shaw, Vice President and General Manager of Boeing NASA Systems, “The Houston area includes our major customers and provides the kind of educational systems and quality of life amenities that allow us to attract a high-tech workforce capable of exploring space.”

Aerospace Resources:

Aerospace Events:

Offshore Technology Conference held annually.