The space race is back, driven by the government but enabled by private companies that are bringing jobs, prestige and and challenges to Florida. And this time, the state is serving as more than the nation’s launching pad. In less than a decade, the region has rebounded by attracting companies such as plane maker Embraer to join longtime Defense Department contractors Lockheed, Northrop Grumman and Harris in Brevard County. Commercial rocket companies SpaceX and Blue Origin arrived, too, as the state and Space Florida — Florida’s port authority for space — invested in launch and manufacturing facilities. Boeing came to build its Starliner space capsule...
