Mojave Air & Space Port

What Mojave Air & Space Port does

Mojave Air & Space Port is a public aerospace test center and inland spaceport located in Mojave, California, operated by the East Kern Airport District (EKAD), a California special district. The site spans more than 3,300 acres and features three runways, the longest measuring 12,500 feet, making it suitable for heavy-lift aircraft, space launch vehicle testing, and high-speed flight operations. Originally established in 1935 as a rural airfield, it transitioned into a commercial aerospace research and development hub in the 1990s and now hosts more than 60 companies working on space launch, supersonic flight, unmanned systems, and advanced aerospace manufacturing. It is recognized as the first inland U.S. facility authorized by the FAA Office of Commercial Space Transportation for horizontal space launch and reentry operations.

The business model centers on land and facility leasing, aviation fuel sales, aircraft tie-down and landing fees, motion picture production permitting, and industrial park services. Tenants include Scaled Composites, Virgin Galactic, Stratolaunch, Boom Supersonic, Astrobotic, Vast Space, Impulse Space, Northrop Grumman, BAE Systems, and Progress Rail, spanning human spaceflight, launch services, supersonic aviation, lunar landers, and in-space services. As a government special district, EKAD does not disclose financial results, and operations are funded through tenant fees, fuel flowage charges, and ancillary service revenue rather than equity or venture capital. Recent milestones include the appointment of David Smith as CEO in June 2024 and use of the site for Boom Supersonic's XB-1 first supersonic flight in January 2025.

Name

Mojave Air & Space Port

Legal name

East Kern Airport District (EKAD)

Website

https://mojaveairport.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1935

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

A public aerospace test center and FAA-licensed inland spaceport operated by the East Kern Airport District on 3,300+ acres, hosting 60+ commercial space, supersonic, and defense tenants including Virgin Galactic, Stratolaunch, and Boom Supersonic.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Airport and Aerospace Test Infrastructure Services

NAICS

Airport Operations (48811), Air Traffic Control (488111)

SIC

Airports, Flying Fields & Airport Terminal Services (4581)

akta.pro primary industry

NDT/Inspection & Testing Services (Aviation) (IMABALAJ)

akta.pro secondary industries

Flight Operations Control & Dispatch (OCC/IOCC) (THABAIAA), Defense & Aerospace Project Cargo (Military/Aircraft Components) (TLADAGAJ)

Keywords

• Aerospace flight testing
• Airport infrastructure leasing
• Aviation fuel services
• Industrial land leasing
• Filming location services

Headquarters

HQ city

Mojave

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. Leasing and Property Rental: Revenue from land leases (from $0.025/sq ft for off-flightline properties, $0.05/sq ft for flightline properties), T-hangars (from $0.27/sq ft), office/building/storage facilities ($0.35-$2.50/sq ft), and conference room rentals (Board Room $150/day or $20/hour, Corsair Conference Room $120/day or $20/hour).
2. Fuel Sales: Jet A and 100LL fuel sales. 100LL self-serve at $6.80, cash $6.90, credit $7.00. Jet A cash $5.94, credit $6.04. After-hours service available with $200.60 call-out fee.
3. Tie-Down and Landing Fees: Transient aircraft tiedown fees: Single engine $5.00, Multi-engine $10.00, Turbine under 12,500 lbs $15.00, Turbine 12,500-100,000 lbs $75.00, Turbine over 100,000 lbs $250.00. No landing fees at Mojave.
4. Filming Permits: Location permit fee $1,500, taxiway fee $5,000, runway fee $10,000, plus additional support fees based on project scope.
5. Industrial Park Services: Rail infrastructure with 34 daily rail car shipments, wheel shop operations, and industrial manufacturing facilities for tenants in aerospace, aviation, and rail industries.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

Mojave Air & Space Port operates a premier civilian aerospace test center spanning 3,300+ acres in California's high desert, providing flight test infrastructure including three runways (the main runway 12,500 feet long), air traffic control, 24/7 ARFF services, fuel sales, and leasing of T-hangars, land, office, and storage facilities to aerospace tenants. The facility also offers filming location services, conference and event venue rentals, and on-site operations support to over 60 companies engaged in aerospace design, research, and manufacturing.

Product overview

Mojave Air & Space Port at Rutan Field is a premier civilian aerospace test center and airport district operated by the East Kern Airport District. The facility offers a unified portfolio of services centered on its core aerospace test infrastructure: flight test operations, runway facilities, pilot services, industrial/commercial leasing, filming location services, and event venue rental. The airport spans 3,300+ acres and hosts over 60 companies engaged in aerospace design, flight test, research, and manufacturing. Key services include 24/7 ARFF protection, three runways including a 12,500-foot concrete primary runway, T-hangars and land leases for aerospace tenants, professional filming production support, and the Stuart O. Witt Event Center for conferences and events.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Runway Facilities Three runways supporting flight test, cargo, and general aviation operations, with the main Runway 12-30 capable of handling the largest cargo airplanes up to 400,000 lbs double tandem weight. Available to aerospace tenants and operators requiring specialized flight test infrastructure.
• Industrial and Aviation Leasing T-hangars, land leases, office space, storage facilities, and conference rooms available to aerospace, aviation, flight test, rail, industrial, and manufacturing businesses requiring on-airport facilities.
• Pilot Services Fuel services (Jet A and 100LL), tie-down facilities for transient aircraft, AWOS weather data, navaid frequencies, pilot lounge amenities, and after-hours service with $200.60 call-out fee for general aviation operators and corporate flight operations.
• Filming Services Professional filming location services offering access to runways, hangars, warehouses, desert landscapes, vintage aircraft, and aerospace vehicles, including location permits, taxiway/runway fees, and on-site ARFF support for production companies.
• Stuart O. Witt Event Center 23,408 square foot event venue for conferences, holiday parties, and small-scale shows, featuring a stage, two roll-up doors, restrooms, loading area, and food prep area.
• Aircraft Rescue and Fire Fighting Services 24/7 ARFF department, digital surveillance, access control systems, and roving patrols providing safety and security across approximately 13 miles of fence line for airport tenants, operators, and visitors.

Quantifiable outcome

• First nonstop, non-refueled flight around the world completed by Voyager on December 23, 1986, earning the Collier Trophy.
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers15 records

Segments6 records

Ideal customer profiles6 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Ten partnerships are on record, tiered core.

• Boom SupersoniccoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerBoom Supersonic conducts supersonic jet development and testing at Mojave. Their XB-1 demonstrator aircraft achieved its first supersonic flight at the facility on January 28, 2025, becoming the first independently developed jet to break the sound barrier.
• Scaled CompositescoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerScaled Composites has been a cornerstone of aerospace innovation at Mojave since 1982, achieving milestones including winning the Ansari X Prize with SpaceShipOne. They develop experimental aircraft and prototype fabrication using composite materials.
• Stratolaunch SystemscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerStratolaunch operates their Roc aircraft (world's largest composite aircraft) and Talon-A reusable testbed from Mojave. The facility hosts their air launch operations for hypersonic testing.
• Virgin GalacticcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerVirgin Galactic operates their VMS Eve mothership and VSS Unity spacecraft from Mojave for suborbital spaceflight missions and space tourism operations.
• National Test Pilot SchoolcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerNTPS educates more test pilots than any other site in the world from their Mojave campus, providing essential training for the aerospace industry.
• Astrobotic TechnologycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAstrobotic operates their Xodiac VTVL rocket at Mojave for NASA's Flight Opportunities program and commercial customers. The company has won over $600 million in NASA, DoD, and commercial contracts.
• Flight Research InternationalcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFRI provides training, testing and support services with over 1 million square feet of hangars, mission control rooms, maintenance facilities, and a fleet of over 40 aircraft.
• Vast SpacecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerVast develops next-generation space stations including Haven-1, scheduled to be the world's first commercial space station, and is developing human spaceflight capabilities.
• Impulse SpacecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerImpulse Space, founded by Tom Mueller in 2021, pioneers in-space transportation for payload delivery and hosting, operating their development and testing from Mojave.
• Progress Rail ServicescoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerProgress Rail, a Caterpillar company, operates a dedicated wheel shop and parts facility providing maintenance, repair, and component support for rail equipment. They contribute to the facility's rail infrastructure with 34 daily shipments.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights3 records

Broad incumbents

• Kennedy Space Center: NASA's primary launch and spaceflight operations center, increasingly hosting commercial tenants (SpaceX, Boeing). Comparable as a government aerospace complex that competes for commercial space tenants through multi-user launch complexes.
• White Sands Missile Range: Major U.S. Army testing facility in New Mexico covering aerospace, missile, and defense testing. Comparable as a government-operated aerospace test range with similar desert geography and tenant base overlap.
• Edwards Air Force Base: Major U.S. Air Force flight test center in the Mojave Desert with extensive runway infrastructure (including the Rogers Dry Lake lakebed). Comparable as the premier military flight test center, often a co-tenant ecosystem rather than direct competitor.
• Cape Canaveral Space Force Station: Major U.S. government launch and test complex on the Florida coast. Comparable as a large-scale, government-operated aerospace test and launch facility, though focused on orbital launch vs. Mojave's horizontal flight testing focus.

Direct peers

• Cecil Spaceport: FAA-licensed commercial spaceport at Cecil Airport in Jacksonville, FL offering horizontal launch capability. Comparable as a co-located civilian airport + spaceport serving small launch and aerospace testing tenants.
• Midland International Air & Space Port: Texas-based commercial spaceport with FAA Launch Site Operator License and Aerospace Research Center. Comparable mid-sized commercial spaceport offering flight testing infrastructure to aerospace tenants in a similar high-desert geography.
• Spaceport America: New Mexico's state-owned commercial spaceport providing horizontal launch infrastructure for reusable launch vehicles and space tourism. Directly comparable as a purpose-built civilian aerospace testing and spaceport facility competing for the same flight test tenants.

Emerging players

• Blue Origin Launch Site: Privately-developed launch complex in West Texas supporting New Shepard and New Glenn test operations. Comparable as a private aerospace testing facility, though vertically integrated into a single operator's programs.
• SpaceX Starbase / Boca Chica: Privately-operated orbital launch and Starship test facility in Boca Chica, Texas. Comparable as a private launch/test complex developing next-generation reusable launch systems, though vertically integrated vs. Mojave's landlord model.

Regional players

• Wallops Flight Facility: NASA-owned launch and research facility on Virginia's Eastern Shore supporting orbital and suborbital research. Comparable as a government-owned aerospace testing complex with a different coastal geography and orbital launch focus.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks4 records

Key highlights5 records

Customer concentration

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles11 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Mojave Air & Space Port