Empire Space with Patrick Chase

Origin 

Empire Space didn’t begin with a business plan. It began with a shared question.

During the COVID-19 pandemic, while working in a legislative office, the organization’s co-founder, Patrick Chase, began writing freelance pieces for space-related publications. A self-proclaimed space nerd, Patrick studied political science in college and went on to work in government, including in legislative offices, political campaigns, and mayoral races.

One article exploring New York’s contributions to the space sector caught the attention of Evan Lerner, an aerospace engineer and fellow enthusiast. That piece sparked a series of conversations, email exchanges, and spreadsheet-building marathons.

“We wanted to understand: if New York wants to be part of the space future, what does it actually have today?”

Over the next year and a half, they uncovered far more than they expected. There were elite university programs, emerging startups, aerospace suppliers, and research labs all across the state. Many of them were operating in isolation, unaware of one another’s work. 

That research eventually became Empire Space, a nonprofit created to map and strengthen New York’s growing space ecosystem.

The Purpose

Empire Space started with data. Patrick and Evan wanted to identify the people, institutions, and companies doing space-related work across New York.

But the project quickly became more than a spreadsheet. They realized the ecosystem didn’t just need visibility. It needed connection, language, and shared purpose.

“People across the state were working on space tech and had no idea their neighbors were too,” Patrick said during our conversation. “There was no shared sense of identity. That’s what we wanted to change.”

Empire Space now maintains a growing database of over 1,500 entries, covering everything from research labs to aerospace suppliers. The team publishes insights, hosts events, supports ecosystem education, and engages with international partners such as the Luxembourg Chamber of Commerce. It also provides nonpartisan briefings to policymakers, helping them better understand the economic potential of the industry.

Why New York Has a Role in Space

New York might not be a launch site like Florida or Texas, but it has other advantages that are becoming increasingly vital to the future of the space economy.

It is home to major research institutions. It has access to global capital. And it excels in areas like medicine, data analytics, finance, robotics, and satellite-based applications.

“We’re not trying to turn New York into a launch state,” Patrick explained. “We’re trying to help it lead in the parts of the industry where it already excels. That includes satellite data, Earth observation, medical innovation, and the finance and insurance systems that make space businesses possible.”

What’s Next

Empire Space is currently organizing Space Week NY 2026. It is expanding its in-person gatherings, exploring co-sponsored events, and continuing to build the connective tissue across New York’s space community.

One of its major goals is to help move New York from its current mid-tier position into the top five states for space-related economic impact.

According to NASA’s annual reports, New York currently ranks in the mid-teens. Patrick believes it has the ingredients to move much higher. It just needs to put the pieces together in the right way.

The Bigger Picture

Patrick sees a long-term shift in how the space economy functions. While government involvement in space may have already reached its peak, aside from defense spending, private investment continues to grow. 

Many are targeting sub-sectors like materials science, climate technology, and agriculture. Space-based infrastructure already plays a critical role in these industries, especially when it comes to real-time satellite data.

“Space impacts every industry,” Patrick said. “Farmers need better data to manage their crops. That depends on satellites. Medical researchers are developing tools to keep people healthy in zero gravity. That depends on research infrastructure. Whether the impact is primary or secondary, almost every sector has a role to play.”