If you think space travel is still just the domain of astronauts and billionaires, think again. As the commercial space sector skyrockets, the construction industry is experiencing its own out-of-this-world moment. The boom in spaceports and satellite manufacturing facilities has caused companies to break ground in the most unlikely locations, from the deserts of Texas to the Scottish highlands.
Take SpaceX’s 350-acre Starbase in Texas, a sprawling spaceport and production facility where the next generation of Starship rockets are being built and launched. But it is not just about getting into orbit; the site is a construction marvel, with everything from launch pads to a shopping centre. And they are not alone – more than 30 new spaceports are under construction worldwide, with the US and China leading the pack.
Meanwhile, the recently completed Spaceport Cornwall in the UK—built on an existing airport—marks the nation’s first domestic launch facility. Companies like Orbex use these sites to launch smaller, cheaper satellites into space. The demand for nanosatellites is exceptionally high, with tech giants like Amazon and Shanghai Spacecom using them to beam internet access to rural areas or monitor environmental changes.
But space construction is not just about launchpads. The rise of mega factories dedicated to building satellites is becoming lucrative. For example, Amazon’s new 172,000-square-foot Project Kuiper hub in Washington is a state-of-the-art satellite production facility where advanced equipment—including robotic arms and liquid nitrogen tanks—is used to test and build spacecraft components. This trend is only set to grow, with companies around the globe racing to produce satellites at scale.
This shift opens up many opportunities for construction firms to work on cutting-edge projects extending beyond Earth’s atmosphere. As space becomes more accessible, expect construction firms to play an increasingly pivotal role in the final frontier.
Related article: Construction is Going Galactic: The Space Boom and Earthly Opportunities
