July 1, 2025 · Entrepreneurs, Innovation, Program Impact, Stories
Big Apple to Rocket City: SpaceFactory Shoots for the Moon from Huntsville
In a city built for the space race, a startup building for the Moon just found its launchpad.
SpaceFactory, the company behind NASA’s award-winning 3D-printed Mars habitat, has relocated its headquarters from New York to Huntsville. Known for developing autonomous construction systems that use native materials like lunar soil, the company is focused on solving one of space exploration’s biggest challenges: how to build infrastructure where nothing yet exists.
That same technology has potential far closer to home. The systems SpaceFactory has developed for space are also being positioned for Earth-based applications, including defense, emergency response and off-grid construction. With the right ecosystem, these dual-use technologies are positioned to serve both public and commercial sectors.
Huntsville offers that ecosystem. The company has secured a site for future development at 209 Bailes Street near downtown Huntsville, which will become the SpaceFactory Industry Hub. In the interim, operations are already underway nearby at the Alabama Robotics Technology Park. The location places SpaceFactory close to NASA’s Marshall Space Flight Center, Redstone Arsenal and a regional workforce known for advanced engineering and manufacturing. The planned $2 million investment is gearing up to bring more than 25 high-skilled jobs to the area.
In late 2024, SpaceFactory was selected to participate in the inaugural Defense Tech Accelerator at Cummings Research Park. Backed by the Innovate Alabama Tax Credit Program, the accelerator connects dual-use startups with state support, federal stakeholders and growth partners across Alabama’s innovation economy. For SpaceFactory, the program helped refine business strategy, build local relationships and accelerate plans to relocate.
Relocating to Huntsville marked a turning point for our company,” said CEO Dave Malott. “The accelerator gave us the clarity and connections we needed to move with purpose. Huntsville’s space and defense ecosystem offers the talent, resources and proximity that will help us scale what comes next.” – Dave Malott. CEO of SpaceFactory
The company also secured a Phase II SBIR award from NASA, totaling $850,000 to advance in-situ resource utilization (ISRU) techniques. This includes development of a deployable lunar road made from simulated Moon dust, supporting NASA’s Artemis program and the long-term goal of infrastructure for lunar mobility.
Gov. Kay Ivey called the relocation a strong signal for Alabama’s future. “Huntsville’s unique industrial environment, combined with the strength of Alabama’s workforce, makes our state an ideal home for SpaceFactory,” she said. “This investment represents another step forward in our mission to build a brighter economic future for Alabamians.”
Connor McLeod, SpaceFactory’s VP of Engineering, noted that quality of life also factored into the decision.
Our entire team was involved in the decision. Huntsville stood out not just for its technical strengths, but for its unique culture and sense of place. It’s a city where our people feel connected and our company can continue to grow.” – McLeod
As the SpaceFactory Industry Hub comes online, the company is focused on expanding partnerships in the defense and aerospace sectors while continuing to support NASA’s goals. The facility will house research labs, manufacturing space and areas for live demonstration, providing a flexible base to test and scale new applications.
Alabama’s innovation community sees the move as a reflection of what the state can offer: a workforce equipped for high-tech growth, a deep bench of institutional knowledge and public-private alignment that helps early-stage ventures scale.
SpaceFactory’s arrival is more than a relocation. It’s a signal of what happens when bold ideas find the right environment to take root — and a reminder of how Alabama is shaping the future of innovation, one launch at a time.
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