Upcoming Interior Economic Boom?

Fairbanks, the second largest city in Alaska, has a few key things going for it: the University of Alaska Fairbanks, the proximity of four military bases (Ft. Wainwright, Eielson AFB, Clear Space Force, and Ft. Greely), mining, the trans-Alaska pipeline, and aviation.  Everyone who lives in the interior realizes this.  What happens when two large space initiatives hit a city like Fairbanks?

NASA photo by Lee Wingfield A four-stage NASA sounding rocket launches from Poker Flat Research Range on Nov. 9, 2023. The rocket was carrying instruments for the Beam-Plasma Interactions Experiment.

Earlier this summer, the University of Alaska Fairbanks signed a 5-year agreement with Alaska Aerospace, to expand the Poker Flat Research Range, a sub-orbital rocket range, into the state’s second spaceport.  The Pacific Spaceport Complex Alaska (PSCA), currently the state’s only spaceport, is located on Kodiak and can manage small and medium space launch vehicles.  The new expansion planned for Poker Flat Research Range could potentially be built to handle similar sized launch vehicles, but this is not confirmed yet.  The PSCA has a list of upcoming rocket launches and an additional spaceport would be utilized to help with growing demand.

In mid-July, the Golden Dome, a missile defense and early warning system, was announced as a $400 billion project headed by the Space Force.  According to President Trump, Alaska was going to play a major role.  Clear Space Force does indeed run a long range detection radar (LRDR) system, which was put in place before it changed from Clear Air Force Station to Clear Space Force.  Additionally, Ft. Greely is home to a major missile defense system.

It Effects Us

The interior of Alaska could experience an economic boom over the next 3-5 years due to the following factors: an increase of construction, an increase of military personnel, the need for local resources, and the need for local labor and expertise.

Construction is going to increase due to the new spaceport and with Golden Dome-related federal projects.  The construction will end up affecting the entire state overall due to the amount of military sites and stations across the state.  Those in the construction industry should begin looking for requests for proposals.  Currently, Alaska Aerospace just released a request for information for non-permanent facilities in Kodiak.  This also indicates that the local trade unions are going to be in need of new apprentices.  Additionally, once the construction begins on the second spaceport, there will be a possible need for some space industry buildings around Fairbanks.

Due to the increase in construction and technology for the Golden Dome, there should be an increase in military personnel.  As people in the interior know, this means an increase in demand for local housing.

Quick disconnect fittings developed and manufactured by The Launch Company for the space industry

There is also going to be a need for local resources, labor, and expertise.  What we could see occur is an increase of UAF graduates, an increase of apprentices with local trade unions, and the development of a small commercial space and technology industry. 

A great example of this stems out of Anchorage with The Launch Company.  The Launch Company was a provider of rocket and spacecraft components, ground equipment for launch sites, and engineering services company that decided to start manufacturing a stainless steel quick disconnect system that simply had too long of a lead time from out-of-state companies.  The Launch Company was acquired by Voyager Space in 2021. 

Fairbanks could see similar local innovation occur through 3D printing, satellite development, unmanned aircraft systems, robotics, cold climate research, atmospheric research, ISRU mining, and application development. Local resources for the space industry will be sought after for any company looking for local manufacturing and research and development.  Additionally, horizontal industry development could include game developers, robotics, advanced mining technology, an increase in local entertainment, an increase in local restaurants, and STEM-related programs for locals. Fairbanks would have to see an increase in venture capital to help make these things happen.

In established cities with a substantial space industry, such as Huntsville, AL or Houston, TX or Seattle, WA or Los Angeles, CA, the industry related boom has led to an increase in higher paying jobs, education, the arts, entertainment, and population. Could Fairbanks be next in line?