Boosting Space Through Business

NASA and the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) have joined forces to launch the SBIC-NASA Initiative, aiming to bolster the American space economy and ensure a sustained presence on the Moon and Mars. This partnership was officially cemented with the signing of a Memorandum of Agreement at the Mary W. Jackson NASA Headquarters in Washington on June 29, 2026.

The initiative will focus on increasing investment in American manufacturers of industrial components and technology providers crucial to space exploration. NASA Administrator Jared Isaacman emphasized the initiative’s role in strengthening America’s industrial base to meet the demands of the new space race, as outlined in President Trump’s National Space Policy. The partnership will operate through NASA’s newly established Office of Strategic Capital and integrate into SBA’s existing Small Business Investment Company (SBIC) Program, which is designed to enhance investment returns by matching private capital raised by investment funds.

Under the agreement, NASA will delineate strategic aerospace technology areas and supply chain needs. In turn, the SBA will attract and license private investment funds that commit to investing at least 60% of their capital into these focus areas, which include energy production, nuclear power, advanced software, specialized materials, and biomedical technology. This strategic alignment between capital and national priorities is expected to significantly boost the industrial base that supports the American space program, thereby securing U.S. leadership in space exploration.