A Reston company that makes technology for satellites has zeroed in on Merrifield for an expansion.
Scout Space will open a 2,650-square-foot manufacturing facility in the still-industrial area south of the Dunn Loring Metro station, while maintaining its existing headquarters in the Summit office buildings at 2002 Edmund Halley Drive.
The expansion will involve an investment by the company of over $1 million and is expected to create 31 new jobs, Virginia Gov. Abigail Spanberger announced yesterday (Tuesday).
“Scout Space’s expansion in Fairfax County reinforces the Commonwealth’s role as a national center of innovation,” the governor said in a press release. “… With the best workforce in America and unmatched proximity to federal agencies and aerospace technology partners, Virginia offers an ideal business environment for companies operating at the forefront of satellite technology.”
Founded in 2019, Scout Space develops autonomy software, sensor systems and data platforms for satellites that are then deployed into space. According to the Fairfax County Economic Development Authority (FCEDA), its current clients include the U.S. Space Force and Blue Origin, which has a Reston office at 2001 Edmund Halley Drive — one door down from Scout Space’s headquarters.
Jeff Bezos’s company has enlisted Scout to provide sensor technology for its planned Blue Ring spacecraft, an in-orbit transport vehicle being designed for national security missions with funding from the Pentagon.
Scout Space’s new Merrifield facility will be located on Dorr Avenue, CEO Josiah Gruber told FFXnow.
Fairfax County issued a permit late last year allowing the company to occupy Suite Q in a low-lying commercial building at 2821 Dorr Avenue. The location will be dedicated to the research and development of “aerospace optical sensors,” per the certificate of occupancy.
“We expect to begin operations there in the fall,” Gruber said.
Though Northern Virginia has been grappling with an uncertain economic climate over the past year, due in part to federal workforce layoffs and funding cuts, Gruber praised Fairfax County for cultivating “an exceptional environment for innovation, talent, and collaboration,” making it an “ideal location” for his company to grow.
“This expansion reflects both the increasing demand for advanced space domain awareness capabilities and our commitment to building the technologies that enable safer, more dynamic operations in orbit,” Gruber said in the press releases from Spanberger’s office and the FCEDA. “We’re proud to deepen our presence in Virginia and create high-quality jobs while advancing the future of space operations.”
Scout Space’s launch in 2019 was enabled in part by the Virginia Innovation Partnership Corporation, which assisted it with obtaining seed funding, developing prototypes and hiring, among other early-stage needs. The Commonwealth is similarly supporting the company’s expansion by providing consulting and funding for employee recruitment and training through the Virginia Jobs Investment Program.
Fairfax County Board of Supervisors Chairman Jeff McKay and Providence District Supervisor Dalia Palchik, who represents the Merrifield area, touted Scout’s expansion as a reinforcement of the county’s position as a hub for the aerospace, defense and technology industries, though the availability of housing and energy infrastructure to support those businesses and their workforces remains a challenge.
“Seeing [Scout Space] expand into a major player in national security and space technology is exactly the kind of success story we aim to support,” Palchik said. “Their work in advanced sensing, software, and manufacturing is solving real challenges in orbit and helping strengthen Fairfax County’s role in the global space economy for years to come.”
Scout’s Reston and new Merrifield locations are both in areas targeted for future redevelopment.
Property owners in the Lee Hi Industrial Park nominated several parcels last year, including the one where Scout’s manufacturing site will be located, for comprehensive plan amendments that would allow the commercial buildings along Dorr Avenue to be replaced with residential development. The Board of Supervisors authorized county staff to consider the land use changes, but a draft amendment has yet to be released.
The Summit offices, meanwhile, were acquired last year by Bernstein Management Corporation, which submitted a rezoning application in March proposing to replace six office buildings at the end of Edmund Halley Drive with over 3.1 million square feet of new office space, multifamily housing and retail.
