Industry Contributes 28,000 Jobs To Commonwealth's Economy

NASA and industry are joining forces to recognize aerospace as a high-tech engine propelling Virginia's economy and creating high-paying jobs. NASA leaders from Langley Research Center in Hampton and Wallops Flight Facility on the Eastern Shore will join aerospace industry representatives statewide to bring this message to Virginia General Assembly members on AeroSpace Days 2012, Wednesday and Thursday (February 8-9) in Richmond.

Individual events include an education showcase of student programs and how they are contributing to the Commonwealth's future aerospace workforce, co-sponsored by the chairs of the House and Senate Education Committees.

Astronaut Anna Fisher, who flew as a mission specialist on STS-51A in 1984, will speak with Senate and House pages. Dr. Fisher logged a total of 192 hours in space and was the first mother ever to fly in space.

Over 300 aerospace firms in the Commonwealth contribute $7.6 billion to the Virginia economy and create more than 28,000 jobs with an average annual salary of nearly $100,000. NASA's two Virginia facilities bring in $1.2 billion and support nearly 11,000 jobs. Virginia's newest aerospace asset, the Mid-Atlantic Regional Spaceport (MARS), is one of only four commercial spaceports licensed by the FAA to send rockets into orbit.

FMI: www.nasa.gov ; www.marsspaceport.com