Great news, Oklahoma!
After successfully conquering education, healthcare and all the other categories where Kevin Stitt promised to make us a Top 10 state, the governor is now turning his attention to the final frontier.
Earlier this week, Stitt unveiled “Oklahoma’s Space Advantage” – a new statewide strategy designed to grow Oklahoma’s share of the booming global space economy and, I assume, provide state leaders with exciting new chances to launch taxpayer incentives toward their buddies in the private sector.
The announcement came during the Oklahoma Breakfast ahead of the Farnborough International Airshow, because apparently the best place to announce a “simple, low-cost” Oklahoma economic-development plan is at an international aerospace convention in England.
Via the state:
The Oklahoma Department of Aerospace and Aeronautics (ODAA), alongside the Oklahoma Space Industry Development Authority (OSIDA), today released a statewide strategy to grow Oklahoma’s role in the fast-expanding space industry and position the state to compete for jobs, investment, and federal contracts as the global space economy nearly triples over the next decade. The strategy was announced by Governor Kevin Stitt during the Oklahoma Breakfast ahead of the 2026 Farnborough International Airshow.
“We’re going to be top 10 in everything we do,” said Governor Kevin Stitt. “We’ve been building the backbone of the aerospace industry and we do it better than anyone else. By seizing this moment, we are creating generations of quality, good paying jobs for our kids and grandkids. This is a critical moment, and we are prepared to take it.”
Yep, that’s right. The same man who brought us Canoo, ClassWallet and Swadley’s Foggy Bottom Kitchen is now turning his focus and attention to the space industry!
That’s cool!
I can’t wait to see what scandals, controversies and taxpayer-funded schemes they beam up for this one. Seriously, just think of the consulting fees Swadley could tack onto a used rocket booster.
Although I’m cynical about anything involving Stitt, space and Oklahoma, this plan to lure the industry to the state does seem more sane, practical, grounded and realistic than previous efforts.
I know this because they put together a flashy PDF that explains the plan and introduces cool new concepts like the Oklahoma Space Triangle:
Listen, I know I’m not a government official trying to lure a futuristic industry to the state while improving my own personal and financial standing in the process, but shouldn’t our Space Triangle resemble a triangle? I know the Oklahoma Slightly Crooked Space Line doesn’t have the same ring to it, but these optics matter!
Anyway, you can view the entire PDF outlining the new space strategy below:
Although it’s nice to see the state focus on a growing industry, it’s hard for me to get too excited about anything Stitt and his cronies are pumping. Sure, maybe this will create good jobs and establish Oklahoma as a legitimate player in the space economy, but more than likely, we’ll spend millions of dollars luring some rocket company here, only to watch it abruptly run out of money and file for bankruptcy.
Either way, stay with The Lost Ogle. We'll keep you advised.
