Los Angeles has long been at the center of aerospace innovation, from the early days of aviation to today’s race to space. What was once the realm of government agencies is now driven by a mix of scrappy startups and global giants building rockets, satellites, autonomous defense systems and even zero-emission aircraft.
With companies like SpaceX and Anduril pushing launch technology forward and others tackling everything from orbital security to electric flight, LA’s aerospace ecosystem is shaping the next era of exploration and defense.
Top Aerospace Companies in LA
- Relativity Space
- SpaceX
- Rocket Lab
- The Aerospace Corporation
- Northrup Grumman
- Slingshot Aerospace
- Ten Tech
- Wright Electric Airplanes
- Honeybee Robotics
Top Aerospace Companies Near Los Angeles
Founded: 1960
The Aerospace Corporation is a non-profit providing research, education and development for national security space programs for the last half century. Operating a research and development center for multiple federal departments, Aerospace focuses on supporting long term planning, reducing risks and costs in development, and ensuring better chances of mission success.
Founded: 2016
Slingshot Aerospace works with aerospace system integrators and data providers to offer geospatial insights to both private industries and government. Slingshot’s machine learning platform connects to the data streams of satellites and other aerial vehicles, translating data into web portals and APIs so their clients can solve industry-specific challenges.
Founded: 2002
SpaceX is an aerospace and aviation company creating spacecraft and rocket technology. Founded by Elon Musk in 2002, the company has already made historic achievements by being the first and only private company to return a commercial spacecraft from low-Earth orbit. SpaceX is currently fulfilling cargo resupply missions to the International Space Station and is on its way to being a leading provider of launch services and an innovator in the aerospace field.
Founded: 1939
Northrop Grumman Systems is a leading global security company boasting an impressive aerospace sector which provides military aircraft and space systems. The company’s technology is used for a variety of needs like surveillance, reconnaissance, intelligence, Earth observation and space exploration.
Founded: 2011
Ten Tech LLC provides engineering and software solutions for manufacturers that help develop more advanced and safer products at lower costs. The company provides expertise on a wide range of areas including aerospace, defense, avionics packaging and airborne electronics
Founded: 1916
Boeing is an aerospace company with an international and extraterrestrial footprint, boasting a team of engineers and developers who collaborate on projects for defense, commercial flights, space travel and other use cases. Members of their team enjoy a broad variety of benefits including 401(K) matching, parental leave, paid holidays and tuition reimbursement.
Founded: 2017
Anduril is a military contractor that builds hardware and software for autonomous air, land and sea missions. The backbone of Anduril’s technology offerings is the AI-powered Lattice OS, which the company describes as “an autonomous sensemaking and command and control platform.”
Founded: 2022
True Anomaly brings together a combination of technical and domain expertise “to deliver industry-leading technology for space security and sustainability.” Jackal is the company’s autonomous orbital vehicle, which has been designed with advanced maneuvering capabilities and a modular payload configuration.
Founded: 2006
Rocket Lab is making commercial space more accessible, frequently delivering small satellites to low-Earth orbit. Its leading product, Electron, carries payloads of 150kg using a process that enables clients to have standby loads prepared and eliminates delays. While headquartered in Southern California, Rocket Lab has offices in Virginia and launch sites in New Zealand.
Founded: 2022
Turion Space designs, builds and operates spacecraft designed for both national security and commercial use. It aims to drive humankind’s expansion into the solar system, offering products like Turion Ion Engine, an electric propulsion system that’s engineered for precise orbital maneuvers and extended mission duration in low Earth orbit and beyond. The company is headquartered in Irvine, California.
Founded: 2016
Wright Electric Airplanes is developing clean flying solutions with electric power. The company is working towards accomplishing a goal of zero-emissions for all short flights in the next 20 years. Their electric plane features changeable battery packs, energy efficient wings, a distributed propulsion system and an overall quieter aircraft.
Founded: 2017
Lucid Circuit develops two AI-enabled chips for satellites. These chips, built for processing at the edge, accommodate power-efficient machine learning and blockchain capabilities while on-board a satellite. This helps satellites to gather, process and store data at higher volumes and in much quicker times than traditional technologies.
Founded: 2015
Relativity Space engineers and manufactures rockets to support space infrastructure. Terran R is the company’s medium-to-heavy lift reusable rocket, which can deliver payloads for government and commercial customers to orbit and is designed to address growing demand for launch capacity solutions.
Founded: 1983
To keep clients at the forefront of space innovation, Honeybee Robotics continues to deliver unique solutions. Products like subsystems and space mining robots support some of the most complex spacecraft and space exploration missions. With over three decades of experience in research and development, Honeybee Robotics has become a key contributor to space components and infrastructure that have powered the efforts of groups like NASA.
