Aerostar International LLC, headquartered in Sioux Falls, South Dakota, acquired Tillamook-based Near Space Corporation in 2024. Near Space Corporation was founded in 1996 as a commercial provider of high altitude/near space platforms and flight services for government, academic and commercial customers.  Aerostar Tillamook facilities include the WWII Tillamook Naval Air Station where a massive blimp hangar and the custom-built Johnson Near Space Center infrastructure which provide end-to-end engineering, production and flight testing of their products.

Aerostar’s Tillamook site is ideally located at the Port of Tillamook (OR) Airport (KTMK) where their modern, custom-built engineering, manufacturing and testing facility allows efficient development and production of a variety of lighter than air platform types and sizes.

Their services and products provide a highly competitive means for maturing and validating autonomous technologies, sensors and data by supporting the testing of components, systems and concepts of operations in a relevant environment.

Aerostar capabilities include engineering design, analysis, integration and testing as well as manufacturing through prototyping, fabrication and assembly of complex designs purpose built for their customers. Additionally, the combination of on site facilities and an expansive test range, including Aerostar management of an FAA Designated UAS Test Range, enables the company to coordinate closely with the FAA for mission planning and flights of balloons and UAS both overland and in the offshore maritime environment – all right from their doorstep at the Johnson Near Space Center in Tillamook, Oregon.