The Aerospace Corporation: The Secret Engine Behind America’s Military Space Programs
The Aerospace Corporation is the United States’ premier technical advisor for national security space programs — a nonprofit FFRDC (Federally Funded Research and Development Center) that has guided every major U.S. military satellite program since its founding in 1960.
Ranked #83 on the SIPRI 2025 list with $1.16 billion in revenue (85% from defense), Aerospace Corp. operates at the intersection of government space policy and engineering execution — providing the technical oversight, systems engineering, and independent assessment that government agencies rely on when contracting multi-billion-dollar space programs.
Key Program Areas
- GPS III satellite constellation oversight
- Space Force acquisition support
- Protected tactical satellite communications (PTSA)
- Space situational awareness (SSA/SDA)
- Hypersonic threat modeling and analysis
