Blue Origin to Build Satellite Manufacturing Complex in Texas with 2,000 Jobs

Blue Origin plans to build a 1.3 million-square-foot satellite manufacturing complex named "Constellation Park" in the town of Hutto, Texas, north of Austin.

The complex will serve the company's "TeraWave" constellation and "Quartz" ground network, and will include the production of solar panels, avionics, and communication equipment.

The company expects the project to add about 2,000 manufacturing jobs over the next decade.

The expansion comes at a time when satellite communications companies are racing to build in-house manufacturing capabilities to accelerate the deployment of their constellations instead of relying on external suppliers, with the sector featuring large facilities such as Amazon's plant in Kirkland, Washington. This development impacts the manufacturing sector and jobs in Texas, as well as competing companies in the satellite market, because available manufacturing capacity determines how quickly service reaches subscribers.

What do these terms mean?

Satellite Constellation: A large group of satellites working together to cover vast areas and provide a single communication service.

Solar Panels: Panels that generate electricity from sunlight to power satellites in orbit.

Avionics: Electronic equipment that controls the operation, guidance, and system management of a spacecraft.

Ground Network: Stations and antennas on Earth's surface that connect satellites to communication networks and the internet.