Few Oregonians know Tillamook is home to a cutting

When the International Space Station needed an airtight membrane, NASA turned to Aerostar Tillamook.

“There’s only been one air barrier ever certified by NASA to go to space,” said Aerostar business manager Kevin Tucker. “And we made it.”

When Oregonians and others think about Tillamook, they generally picture cows or the Tillamook Creamery. Tucker said Oregonians generally aren’t aware there’s an aerospace company in their midst.

“It’s like, ‘Oh you guys are doing secret stuff!’ Like no. It’s just different.”

The company’s expertise lies in putting together soft pieces of high-tech fabric, meaning Aerostar employs a lot of highly trained structural engineers and sewing professionals.

“The know-how that we have is how to take pieces, put them together, with very uniform loads and stre