AeroTech Consumer Aerospace (AeroTech) was founded by Gary C. Rosenfield in Sacramento, California in 1982 to design, manufacture and market solid composite propellant hobby rocket motors. The first motors offered included the "G30" "moon burning" motor and "E6" and "F10" long-burning contest motors which were later sold through Apogee Components of Colorado Springs, CO. Sales were by mail-order and "rocket product only" dealers that typically operated at hobby rocket launch sites.

In 1985, Gary co-founded Industrial Solid Propulsion (ISP), Inc. with Daniel H. Meyer to design and manufacture solid composite propellant rocket motors for aerospace, military, and industrial applications. 1985 also marked the year that AeroTech and ISP first moved their facilities to Las Vegas, NV and in 1987 they moved again to an industrial complex at 1955 South Palm St. in Las Vegas. By 1988 AeroTech had established itself as the largest supplier of technically advanced solid composite propellant rocket motors for the hobby rocket market. In 1989, AeroTech acquired the assets of Enertek, Inc., a Phoenix, AZ-based model rocket company that sought to enter the "E" through "G" mid-power segment of the model rocket market. Also in 1989, AeroTech was acquired by ISP in a transaction that brought Paul C. Hans, an Enertek co-founder, and model rocket pioneer, into the company.