Aerospace Development

ECONOMIC DIVERSITY

Developing and Promoting Aerospace in Hawaiʻi

PISCES continually supports long-term aerospace development projects that can bring more job opportunities and revenue to the State of Hawaiʻi. The Islands’ geographic location and geological makeup offer unique opportunities for high-tech, high-salaried jobs in aerospace. We envision research and development to fuel industries and products that benefit sustainability on Earth while advancing space exploration. Learn more about these opportunities in our aerospace white paper written in collaboration with the Hawai’i Space Flight Laboratory.

Request Whitepaper

OPPORTUNITIES

Aerospace Initiatives to Grow Hawaiʻi's Economy

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Unmanned Aerial Systems

Hawaiʻi is among only a few locations in the world where next-generation Unmanned Aerial Systems (UAS) could launch and land. UAS operate like geostationary satellites and have the potential to bring a variety of important services to Hawaiʻi. These include:

  • Statewide broadband internet access
  • Tracking data for storms and volcanic activity
  • Monitoring sea level rise, coastal erosion, and reefs
  • Tracking the spread of invasive species
  • Natural disaster recovery efforts

HAPSMobile, a joint venture of SoftBank Corp. and Aerovironment, Inc., aims to establish a UAS operations and assembly center in Hawaiʻi. The center would support an airborne network of solar-powered aircraft providing wireless services on the ground from the upper stratosphere. Such a facility would aid Hawaiʻi’s economy by creating more than 200 jobs in information technology, engineering, and aviation, as well as vocational programs for prospective workers.

Basalt Fiber Manufacturing

Hawaiʻi’s volcanic basalt has the specific chemical properties needed to make a durable, heat-resistant product known as Continuous Basalt Fiber (CBF). Similar to carbon fiber and fiberglass, CBF is an additive-free material that can be woven into flame-retardant fabrics, corrosion-resistant rebar, and other durable products. As of 2024, global CBF manufacturing was valued at roughly $265 million and projected to triple in the next 10 years.

In 2017, we contracted a state-funded market feasibility study to determine the viability of a CBF manufacturing operation here on Hawaiʻi Island. The report included:

  • Current global market demand for CBF
  • Average market price of CBF products
  • Estimated cost to build and operate a plant on Hawaiʻi Island
  • Manufacturing plant business model
  • Estimated cost comparison between CBF manufactured in Hawaiʻi and other locations globally
  • Potential number of jobs and average wages that would be created

To request a copy of this report, please contact us.

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TESTING ENVIRONMENTS

Planetary Analog Sites

Hawaiʻi is home to many volcanic landscapes that serve as high-fidelity planetary analog test  sites. These basalt-rich sites offer test and training environments for space mission simulations and planetary surface systems. Not only do they look similar to the surface of the Moon and Mars, but they share a very similar chemical composition.

LEARN MORE
analog site at NELHA
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Request White Paper

In collaboration with University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa’s Hawaiʻi Space Flight Laboratory, we created a white paper outlining a variety of aerospace development opportunities that can diversify and benefit Hawaiʻi’s economy. Interested in reading it? Send us a request using the form below.