{"id":202370,"date":"2026-06-06T22:07:06","date_gmt":"2026-06-07T05:07:06","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/new.thepinetree.net\/?p=202370"},"modified":"2026-06-06T22:07:06","modified_gmt":"2026-06-07T05:07:06","slug":"governor-newsom-visits-space-beach-and-highlights-californias-aerospace-dominance","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/new.thepinetree.net\/?p=202370","title":{"rendered":"Governor Newsom visits Space Beach and Highlights California\u2019s Aerospace Dominance"},"content":{"rendered":"<div class=\"et_pb_module et_pb_text et_pb_text_2 news-body-text  et_pb_text_align_left et_pb_bg_layout_light\">\n<div class=\"et_pb_text_inner\">\n<p>Long Beach, CA&#8230;Recently, Governor Gavin Newsom visited Long Beach \u2014 also known as \u201cSpace Beach\u201d \u2014 a dynamic hub for the aerospace industry that has a deep legacy in the field. Given its prime location near major ports, military bases, and top engineering schools, Long Beach continues to serve as a leading launchpad for science and discovery.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"et_pb_module et_pb_image et_pb_image_1\"><a href=\"https:\/\/x.com\/CAgovernor\/status\/2062982079407849486?s=20\"><span class=\"et_pb_image_wrap \"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-107730\" title=\"\" src=\"https:\/\/www.gov.ca.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/Governor-Newsom-Tours-Vast-Space-HQ-in-Long-Beach-PRESS-RELEASE-THUMBNAIL-GIF.gif\" alt=\"\" width=\"480\" height=\"600\" \/><\/span><\/a><\/div>\n<div class=\"et_pb_module et_pb_text et_pb_text_3 news-body-text  et_pb_text_align_left et_pb_bg_layout_light\">\n<div class=\"et_pb_text_inner\">\n<p>While in Space Beach, Governor Newsom and Long Beach Mayor Rex Richardson toured Vast, a fast-rising commercial space company headquartered in the Golden State. Vast, founded in 2021, is quickly becoming a major player in the emerging private space industry. The company focuses on building the next generation of commercial space stations and long-duration human habitation infrastructure in low Earth orbit, setting itself apart from major space companies that launch rockets. Vast is strategically located in Southern California, tapping into the region\u2019s aerospace talent base, infrastructure, port access, and advanced manufacturing ecosystem.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"et_pb_module et_pb_text et_pb_text_4 quote  et_pb_text_align_left et_pb_bg_layout_light\">\n<div class=\"et_pb_text_inner\">\n<p>The future happens here first in the Golden State and companies like Vast are leading the way in the commercial space industry. California\u2019s unparalleled innovation ecosystem and skilled workforce is fueling the Golden Age of science and discovery for the next generation of explorers.<\/p>\n<p><small>Governor Gavin Newsom<\/small><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"et_pb_module et_pb_image et_pb_image_2\"><a href=\"https:\/\/x.com\/CAgovernor\/status\/2062982079407849486?s=20\"><span class=\"et_pb_image_wrap \"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-107732\" title=\"\" src=\"https:\/\/www.gov.ca.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/Vast-Gavin-Newsom-017.jpg\" sizes=\"auto, (min-width: 0px) and (max-width: 480px) 480px, (min-width: 481px) and (max-width: 980px) 980px, (min-width: 981px) 1080px, 100vw\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.gov.ca.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/Vast-Gavin-Newsom-017.jpg 1080w, https:\/\/www.gov.ca.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/Vast-Gavin-Newsom-017-980x653.jpg 980w, https:\/\/www.gov.ca.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/Vast-Gavin-Newsom-017-480x320.jpg 480w\" alt=\"\" width=\"1080\" height=\"720\" \/><\/span><\/a><\/div>\n<div class=\"et_pb_module et_pb_text et_pb_text_5 news-body-text  et_pb_text_align_left et_pb_bg_layout_light\">\n<div class=\"et_pb_text_inner\">\n<p dir=\"ltr\"><strong id=\"x_docs-internal-guid-f571f6ec-7fff-f1ae-d981-fec2d80fc126\"><a title=\"https:\/\/urlscanner.mailmarshal.cloud\/?c=22645&amp;d=x9T46fg-ymCRoHT2Pc8eBoaIRWCtwYOaTSz43MjaKQ&amp;s=1779&amp;u=https%3a%2f%2fwww%2egov%2eca%2egov%2f2026%2f04%2f06%2ficymi-bloomberg-news-how-californias-economy-dominates-in-the-gavin-newsom-era%2f\" href=\"https:\/\/urlscanner.mailmarshal.cloud\/?c=22645&amp;d=x9T46fg-ymCRoHT2Pc8eBoaIRWCtwYOaTSz43MjaKQ&amp;s=1779&amp;u=https%3a%2f%2fwww%2egov%2eca%2egov%2f2026%2f04%2f06%2ficymi-bloomberg-news-how-californias-economy-dominates-in-the-gavin-newsom-era%2f\" data-auth=\"NotApplicable\" data-linkindex=\"3\" data-olk-copy-source=\"MessageBody\">The Golden State\u2019s innovation ecosystem fuels the future<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n<p dir=\"ltr\">With diverse aerospace and technology companies, world-class research institutions, and a skilled workforce, the Golden State is driving innovation in advanced technologies.<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li dir=\"ltr\" aria-level=\"1\">\n<p dir=\"ltr\" role=\"presentation\">\u00a0California, which is home to one-third of the nation\u2019s space technology companies, has more aerospace engineers and defense personnel than any other state.<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<li dir=\"ltr\" aria-level=\"1\">\n<p dir=\"ltr\" role=\"presentation\">California ranks #1 in corporate aerospace R&amp;D spending, and #1 in space-technology venture capital. Together, these reflect the nation\u2019s highest concentration of aerospace talent, with California alone accounting for roughly 40% of all U.S. space-technology patents.<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<li dir=\"ltr\" aria-level=\"1\">\n<p dir=\"ltr\" role=\"presentation\">California\u2019s higher education engine\u2014California Community Colleges (CCC), California State University (CSU), and the University of California (UC)\u2014forms the nation\u2019s most productive public pipeline for aerospace talent. Alongside private institutions such as Stanford, USC, and Caltech, this engine helps California produce more aerospace engineers than anywhere in the U.S.<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<ul>\n<li dir=\"ltr\" aria-level=\"1\">\n<p dir=\"ltr\" role=\"presentation\">The state is also home to all 5 traditional defense prime contractors: Lockheed Martin, Northrop Grumman, Boeing, General Dynamics, and Raytheon.<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<li dir=\"ltr\" aria-level=\"1\">\n<p dir=\"ltr\" role=\"presentation\"><a title=\"https:\/\/www.gov.ca.gov\/2026\/04\/01\/californias-nation-leading-aerospace-industry-powers-nasas-historic-artemis-ii-mission\/\" href=\"https:\/\/www.gov.ca.gov\/2026\/04\/01\/californias-nation-leading-aerospace-industry-powers-nasas-historic-artemis-ii-mission\/\" data-auth=\"NotApplicable\" data-linkindex=\"4\">More than 500 companies and 16,000 workers<\/a>\u00a0in the state contributed to NASA\u2019s Artemis II \u2013 the United States\u2019 first crewed lunar mission in more than 50 years.<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"et_pb_module et_pb_image et_pb_image_3\"><a href=\"https:\/\/x.com\/CAgovernor\/status\/2062982079407849486?s=20\"><span class=\"et_pb_image_wrap \"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-107731\" title=\"\" src=\"https:\/\/www.gov.ca.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/Vast-Gavin-Newsom-005-2.jpg\" sizes=\"auto, (min-width: 0px) and (max-width: 480px) 480px, (min-width: 481px) and (max-width: 980px) 980px, (min-width: 981px) 1080px, 100vw\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.gov.ca.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/Vast-Gavin-Newsom-005-2.jpg 1080w, https:\/\/www.gov.ca.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/Vast-Gavin-Newsom-005-2-980x653.jpg 980w, https:\/\/www.gov.ca.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/Vast-Gavin-Newsom-005-2-480x320.jpg 480w\" alt=\"\" width=\"1080\" height=\"720\" \/><\/span><\/a><\/div>\n<div class=\"et_pb_module et_pb_text et_pb_text_6 news-body-text  et_pb_text_align_left et_pb_bg_layout_light\">\n<div class=\"et_pb_text_inner\">\n<h2 class=\"x_mc-toc-title\" dir=\"ltr\"><strong id=\"x_docs-internal-guid-834f0a9b-7fff-bd22-fcad-2bb677f85d3b\" data-olk-copy-source=\"MessageBody\">Investments into the aerospace &amp; defense sector<\/strong><\/h2>\n<p dir=\"ltr\">Within\u00a0<a title=\"http:\/\/jobsfirst.ca.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/Economic-Blueprint.pdf\" href=\"http:\/\/jobsfirst.ca.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/Economic-Blueprint.pdf\" data-auth=\"NotApplicable\" data-linkindex=\"5\">Governor Newsom\u2019s California Jobs First Economic Blueprint<\/a>, the first statewide economic development strategy in more than 20 years, aerospace &amp; defense is an \u201caccelerate\u201d sector \u2013 one where additional investments from the public and private sectors have the capacity to \u201cbend the curve\u201d to catalyze sustained growth, contributing an estimated $35 billion annually to California\u2019s gross domestic product (GDP).<\/p>\n<p dir=\"ltr\">Accordingly, the state has made a number of targeted investments into the sector over the past year, including:<\/p>\n<p dir=\"ltr\"><strong id=\"x_docs-internal-guid-834f0a9b-7fff-bd22-fcad-2bb677f85d3b\">Regional Investment Initiative<\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li dir=\"ltr\" aria-level=\"1\">\n<p dir=\"ltr\" role=\"presentation\">Last August, the state\u00a0<a title=\"https:\/\/www.gov.ca.gov\/2025\/08\/29\/california-awards-80-million-to-drive-economic-growth-and-spur-job-creation-across-the-state\/\" href=\"https:\/\/www.gov.ca.gov\/2025\/08\/29\/california-awards-80-million-to-drive-economic-growth-and-spur-job-creation-across-the-state\/\" data-auth=\"NotApplicable\" data-linkindex=\"6\">awarded<\/a>\u00a0$16.95 million to two projects designed to provide ecosystem support and uplift the aerospace &amp; defense sector\u2019s infrastructure and workforce in the Central Coast.<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p dir=\"ltr\"><strong id=\"x_docs-internal-guid-834f0a9b-7fff-bd22-fcad-2bb677f85d3b\">CalCompetes Tax Credit Program<\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li dir=\"ltr\" aria-level=\"1\">\n<p dir=\"ltr\" role=\"presentation\">In May of this year, the following aerospace and defense companies\u00a0<a title=\"https:\/\/www.gov.ca.gov\/2026\/05\/06\/governor-newsom-announces-1b-in-private-investment-generated-through-california-competes-tax-credits-driving-business-expansion-in-key-industry-sectors\/\" href=\"https:\/\/www.gov.ca.gov\/2026\/05\/06\/governor-newsom-announces-1b-in-private-investment-generated-through-california-competes-tax-credits-driving-business-expansion-in-key-industry-sectors\/\" data-auth=\"NotApplicable\" data-linkindex=\"7\">received awards<\/a>:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li dir=\"ltr\" aria-level=\"2\">\n<p dir=\"ltr\" role=\"presentation\"><a title=\"https:\/\/machindustries.com\/\" href=\"https:\/\/machindustries.com\/\" data-auth=\"NotApplicable\" data-linkindex=\"8\">Mach Industries,<\/a>\u00a0resulting in a $32.5 million investment to expand its defense technology manufacturing and research &amp; development in Huntington Beach, Los Angeles and San Francisco, creating 1,057 jobs.<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<li dir=\"ltr\" aria-level=\"2\">\n<p dir=\"ltr\" role=\"presentation\"><a title=\"https:\/\/www.apexspace.com\/\" href=\"https:\/\/www.apexspace.com\/\" data-auth=\"NotApplicable\" data-linkindex=\"9\">Apex Space,\u00a0<\/a>resulting in a $165.5 million investment to expand its satellite manufacturing presence in Los Angeles and the broader Southern California region, creating 483 jobs.<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<li dir=\"ltr\" aria-level=\"2\">\n<p dir=\"ltr\" role=\"presentation\"><a title=\"https:\/\/voyagertechnologies.com\/\" href=\"https:\/\/voyagertechnologies.com\/\" data-auth=\"NotApplicable\" data-linkindex=\"10\">Voyager Technologies, resulting in a<\/a>\u00a0$75 million investment to expand its Long Beach aerospace component manufacturing facility, creating 152 jobs.<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<li dir=\"ltr\" aria-level=\"2\">\n<p dir=\"ltr\" role=\"presentation\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.linkedin.com\/company\/lanteris-space\/\">Lanteris Space, resulting in a<\/a>\u00a0$16 million investment and the creation of 70 jobs to expand its satellite manufacturing facility in San Jose.<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<ul>\n<li dir=\"ltr\" aria-level=\"1\">\n<p dir=\"ltr\" role=\"presentation\">Last June, A.S. Aerospace\u00a0<a title=\"https:\/\/business.ca.gov\/california-announces-latest-round-of-tax-credits-that-will-spur-87-million-in-private-investment-across-the-state\/\" href=\"https:\/\/business.ca.gov\/california-announces-latest-round-of-tax-credits-that-will-spur-87-million-in-private-investment-across-the-state\/\" data-auth=\"NotApplicable\" data-linkindex=\"12\">received an award<\/a>, resulting in a $19 million investment to continue manufacturing precision aerospace hardware in Palmdale and Santa Clarita.<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<li dir=\"ltr\" aria-level=\"1\">\n<p dir=\"ltr\" role=\"presentation\">Last November, Hadrian Automation, Inc. was a beneficiary,\u00a0<a title=\"https:\/\/www.gov.ca.gov\/2025\/11\/17\/governor-newsom-announces-nearly-100m-to-accelerate-californias-manufacturing-industry-and-drive-job-creation\/\" href=\"https:\/\/www.gov.ca.gov\/2025\/11\/17\/governor-newsom-announces-nearly-100m-to-accelerate-californias-manufacturing-industry-and-drive-job-creation\/\" data-auth=\"NotApplicable\" data-linkindex=\"13\">creating 650 jobs and investing $52 million<\/a>\u00a0in Torrance and Northern California to expand its aerospace component manufacturing. True Anomaly also received an award to expand its satellite manufacturing facilities in Long Beach, creating 400 jobs along with a $12.7 million investment.<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p dir=\"ltr\"><strong id=\"x_docs-internal-guid-834f0a9b-7fff-bd22-fcad-2bb677f85d3b\">NASA Centers in California<\/strong><\/p>\n<p dir=\"ltr\">In the Golden State, NASA has three main centers and facilities focused on research, flight, and robotic exploration that all contribute to the state\u2019s economic competitiveness, create high-paying jobs, and inspire the next generation of explorers.<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li dir=\"ltr\" aria-level=\"1\">\n<p dir=\"ltr\" role=\"presentation\"><strong>Ames Research Center\u00a0<\/strong>in Silicon Valley has led NASA in conducting world-class research and development in aeronautics, technology, and science since 1939.<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<li dir=\"ltr\" aria-level=\"1\">\n<p dir=\"ltr\" role=\"presentation\"><strong>Armstrong Flight Research Center\u00a0<\/strong>at Edwards Air Force Base in Edwards is NASA\u2019s primary center for high-risk, atmospheric flight research and test projects.<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<li dir=\"ltr\" aria-level=\"1\">\n<p dir=\"ltr\" role=\"presentation\"><strong>Jet Propulsion Laboratory<\/strong>\u00a0in Pasadena leads in robotic space exploration, sending rovers to Mars, probes to the farthest bounds of the solar system, and satellites to advance understanding of our planet. JPL manages the Deep Space Network which is an international array of giant radio antennas, as well as a major center for quantum research at the Quantum Space Innovation Center (QSIC).<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2 dir=\"ltr\"><strong id=\"x_docs-internal-guid-834f0a9b-7fff-bd22-fcad-2bb677f85d3b\">Generations of aerospace &amp; defense leadership<\/strong><\/h2>\n<p dir=\"ltr\">California\u2019s role in powering human spaceflight stretches back decades. The Saturn V rocket that carried Apollo astronauts to the moon was built almost entirely in California and the original Apollo spacecraft itself was manufactured across the state. The Space Shuttle fleet was assembled in Palmdale, the first U.S. space station, Skylab, was built in Huntington Beach, and the RS-25 engine \u2013 originally developed for the Shuttle and now powering the Space Launch System for Artemis II \u2013 has been designed and manufactured in the San Fernando Valley since the 1970s.<\/p>\n<p dir=\"ltr\"><a title=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/fy-2023-economic-impact-report\/\" href=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/fy-2023-economic-impact-report\/\" data-auth=\"NotApplicable\" data-linkindex=\"14\">As of late 2024<\/a>, California is the top state in the country for:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li dir=\"ltr\" aria-level=\"1\">\n<p dir=\"ltr\" role=\"presentation\">NASA spending: NASA procurement spending at $5.8 billion, accounting for 25% of NASA\u2019s total procurement nationwide and resulting in $18.6 billion in economic output for California.<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<li dir=\"ltr\" aria-level=\"1\">\n<p dir=\"ltr\" role=\"presentation\">NASA-supported R&amp;D: California\u2019s share of NASA procurement in the R &amp; D services sector is 67%, representing 19% of NASA-supported jobs in the state.<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<li dir=\"ltr\" aria-level=\"1\">\n<p dir=\"ltr\" role=\"presentation\">NASA Employment Impact: Each NASA job in California supports an additional 35.7 jobs across the state, resulting in a total employment<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Long Beach, CA&#8230;Recently, Governor Gavin Newsom visited Long Beach \u2014 also known as \u201cSpace Beach\u201d \u2014 a dynamic hub for the aerospace industry that has a deep legacy in the field. Given its prime location near major ports, military bases, and top engineering schools, Long Beach continues to serve as a leading launchpad for science [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":202371,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_cbd_carousel_blocks":"[]","jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[20,5,1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-202370","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-featured","category-government","category-news","last_archivepost"],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/new.thepinetree.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/Vast-Gavin-Newsom-010.jpg","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack-related-posts":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/new.thepinetree.net\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/202370","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/new.thepinetree.net\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/new.thepinetree.net\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/new.thepinetree.net\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/new.thepinetree.net\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=202370"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/new.thepinetree.net\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/202370\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":202372,"href":"https:\/\/new.thepinetree.net\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/202370\/revisions\/202372"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/new.thepinetree.net\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/202371"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/new.thepinetree.net\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=202370"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/new.thepinetree.net\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=202370"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/new.thepinetree.net\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=202370"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}