Nearly $600 million worth of investment decisions for new space- based programs will be made in Colorado over the next two years.
The programs will be managed by the Air Force Space Command headquartered in Colorado Springs, said Maj. Gen. Andy Love, special assistant to the commander for National Guard Matters at the Air Force.
"We already have significant facilities built over here," he said. "In the near future, we'll transfer some of the space-based programs to Colorado."
Love made his comments Wednesday at the Denver Metro Chamber of Commerce's Quarterly Gold Program, which focused on Colorado's space potential. The program was held at the Denver Museum of Nature & Science.
One of the space-based programs, an advanced communications system called Transformational Communication Architecture, would involve a $500 million investment.
The space-based radar program would account for another $80 million.
Love said Colorado, whose space industry ranks behind California, Florida and Texas, could become a major player by taking advantage of its opportunities.
For instance, the headquarters of Air Force Space Command in Colorado Springs, which makes decisions on military space systems, has a budget of $8 billion this year.
Also, the University of Colorado ranked fourth nationally among schools in the amount of federal funds received for research and development of space-based initiatives.
In fact, CU's College of Engineering and Applied Science is involved in 42 NASA-sponsored projects, said Jack O'Burns, vice president of academic affairs and research for the CU system.
"Space is good business, and Colorado has the right climate for it," said Trip Mackintosh, attorney of Holland & Hart LLP. "It attracts the right talents, is buzzing with technology and there's so much energy among the students here."
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