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Scout Space plans to open a satellite technology manufacturing facility in Merrifield, investing more than $1 million and creating an estimated 31 jobs while retaining its Reston headquarters.
The 2,650-square-foot facility will occupy Suite Q at 2821 Dorr Avenue, in the industrial area south of the Dunn Loring Metro station. CEO Josiah Gruber said operations are expected to begin in the fall.
Fairfax County issued an occupancy permit late last year authorizing Scout Space to use the property for research and development involving aerospace optical sensors. The company’s headquarters will remain in the Summit office complex at 2002 Edmund Halley Drive in Reston.
Virginia Gov. Abigail Spanberger announced the expansion Tuesday, calling it another sign of the commonwealth’s strength in satellite technology. She pointed to Virginia’s workforce and its proximity to federal agencies and aerospace partners as advantages for companies in the industry.
Founded in 2019, Scout Space develops autonomous software, sensor systems and data platforms used aboard satellites. Its customers include the U.S. Space Force and Blue Origin, which operates a Reston office next to Scout Space’s headquarters at 2001 Edmund Halley Drive.
Blue Origin has selected Scout Space to supply sensor technology for Blue Ring, a planned spacecraft intended to transport payloads in orbit. The vehicle is being developed for national security missions with Pentagon funding.
Gruber said Fairfax County has fostered a strong environment for talent, innovation and collaboration despite Northern Virginia’s recent economic uncertainty, including federal layoffs and funding reductions.
He said the expansion responds to rising demand for technology that improves awareness of activity in space and supports safer, more flexible operations in orbit. It will also allow Scout Space to add skilled jobs and deepen its presence in Virginia.
The Virginia Innovation Partnership Corporation helped the company secure seed funding, develop prototypes and hire employees during its early years. Virginia is now assisting with the Merrifield expansion through the Virginia Jobs Investment Program, which provides consulting and financial support for recruitment and training.
Fairfax County Board of Supervisors Chairman Jeff McKay and Providence District Supervisor Dalia Palchik described the project as a boost for the county’s aerospace, defense and technology sectors. Those industries continue to face local challenges, including the availability of housing and sufficient energy infrastructure for businesses and workers.
Palchik said Scout Space’s growth into national security and space technology demonstrates the kind of business development the county wants to encourage. She highlighted the company’s work in sensing, software and manufacturing as a contribution to both orbital operations and Fairfax County’s position in the international space economy.
Both of Scout Space’s Fairfax County locations sit in areas being considered for major redevelopment.
Property owners in the Lee Hi Industrial Park nominated several sites last year for comprehensive plan changes that could permit residential development to replace commercial buildings along Dorr Avenue. The nominations include the property housing Scout Space’s new facility. County supervisors authorized staff to study the proposed land-use changes, but no draft amendment has been released.
In Reston, Bernstein Management Corporation acquired the Summit office complex last year. A rezoning application filed in March proposes replacing six buildings at the end of Edmund Halley Drive with more than 3.1 million square feet of offices, multifamily housing and retail space.