READY FOR LIFT OFF: Why Long Beach is known as “Space Beach”

By Brittany Hart Scholten

Photo by Craig Van Sickle

Ever wondered why people call Long Beach “Space Beach”? It’s not just a catchy nickname—it’s a nod to the city’s deep ties to aerospace, tech innovation, and a forward moving vibe that’s uniquely Long Beach. From rockets launching nearby to building commercial space stations, some really creative minds are working to get things up into the sky and beyond. 

“Over seven million square feet of the city are encompassed by the space/aerospace industry, and every day there are well over 4,000 individuals working on space and aerospace design, engineering and advanced manufacturing in Long Beach,” per Long Beach Economic Development. 

Ready for lift-off? Let’s explore the galaxy right here in the LBC. This guide will give you the 4-1-1 on what seven space companies are accomplishing in our backyard with over 1,300,000 square feet of facilities near LBX and 15 acres on Pier T of the Port. 

Photo courtesy of ExLabs

ExLabs 

ExLabs, founded in 2023, is a new entrant into the spacecraft industry with plans to push exploration beyond low earth orbit. First, they aim to rendezvous with asteroid Apophis with their spacecraft, Arachne, in 2028, to study the asteroid before its close approach to Earth. Following this, they plan to launch their Science Exploration and Resource Vehicle (SERV) into geostationary orbit. Their ultimate goal of building nuclear powered spacecraft for extended deep-space operations will enhance planetary defense and deep space resource acquisition. These lofty goals are being worked on at their facility at the Long Beach Airport.

Photo courtesy of Tim Ellis

Relativity Space

Relativity Space is aiming to become the next big name in commercial space launch. Based right here in Long Beach, they’re building Terran-R—a reusable rocket designed to make satellite launches more affordable and sustainable. On a mission to drastically reduce the cost of access to space, Relativity’s engines and vehicles are designed and built at a ~1 million square foot facility Wardlow near Cherry.

Photo courtesy of SpinLaunch

SpinLaunch

SpinLaunch is developing a wild new way to reach space with their Orbital Accelerator. Their tech uses an electric-powered, centrifuge-style system to fling 200 kg-class satellites into low Earth orbit. Once the satellite is flung above the thickest part of the atmosphere, a small, low-cost rocket boost gives it the final push it needs to get into the right orbit and position around Earth. It’s faster, cheaper, and way more environmentally friendly than traditional launches.

Photo courtesy of Monique Kuhlman

Vast

Vast’s big project isn’t just a space station—it’s a space home. They’re blending advanced microgravity research with a focus on astronaut comfort. Haven 1 is designed to support both science and well-being in orbit. Its key features include: 1.1m observation dome for jaw-dropping Earth views, a patent-pending sleep system made for zero gravity, and an onboard fitness setup to keep people healthy and in shape. They aim to push the boundaries of human spaceflight and lead the way to long-term, healthy living in space.

Photo courtesy of True Anomaly

True Anomaly

True Anomaly is building tech to keep space safe. Their Jackal satellite can operate in any orbit, capturing images and tracking foreign objects to help protect U.S. spacecraft. Think of it as a space scout, always on watch. Paired with the first all-in-one software platform for space domain awareness, Mosaic, they’re creating tools that work across military and defense missions. From spotting potential threats to coordinating a response, they’re making sure the U.S. stays sharp in space.

Photo courtesy of Monique Kuhlman

Rocket Lab

Rocket Lab does it all—from building rockets to launching their own satellites. Their Electron rocket is a small launch vehicle that’s already been flown many times, and now they’re working on Neutron, a larger, medium-lift rocket designed for even bigger missions. They’re an end-to-end space company, meaning they make both the launch vehicles and the payloads (i.e. a satellite, scientific instruments, or even supplies for a space station) that go to space. With a focus on reusable tech, they’re helping make space more accessible, efficient, and sustainable, all while keeping everything in-house for full control from liftoff to orbit.

Photo courtesy of SpaceX

SpaceX

SpaceX, with its main headquarters in Hawthorne, utilizes the Port of Long Beach for recovery operations for its Falcon 9 rockets and Dragon spacecraft. At a 15-acre site on Pier T, they’re catching and bringing back rocket boosters after launch—part of their mission to make spaceflight more reusable and cost-effective. After a Falcon 9 launches, its first stage lands on a drone ship out at sea, then returns to Long Beach for inspection, refurbishment, and reuse. The Long Beach waterfront location helps SpaceX turn around launches faster while keeping costs down.