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HOUSTON – In a move to bolster the state’s burgeoning space sector, the Texas Space Commission has recently dispensed over $26 million in grants to five enterprises. This latest allocation of funds underscores Texas’ commitment to fostering innovation and economic growth within the commercial space industry.
Texas Space Commission Awards Millions to Space Companies
The Texas Space Commission board approved the funding during an April 16 meeting. This recent round of financial support follows previous grants awarded to five companies in February and to four economic development and regional governmental bodies in January, demonstrating a sustained investment in the Texas space ecosystem.
Recipient Companies and Projects
Aegis Aerospace
Aegis Aerospace secured $10 million to advance the development of a cutting-edge materials manufacturing platform designed for applications in the space environment.
ICON Technology
ICON Technology was granted $694,350 to refurbish a facility dedicated to the production of lunar regolith simulant. This material will be used for internal testing of advanced construction technologies and made available for external research purposes.
Interlune
Interlune obtained $4.84 million to establish a lunar regolith simulant “center of excellence.” This specialized center will be situated at the new Texas A&M Space Institute, currently under construction on the grounds of the Johnson Space Center.
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KULR Technology Group
KULR Technology Group received $6,703,500 to further its work on battery technology, focusing on enhancing performance capabilities in low-temperature conditions, crucial for space operations.
Venus Aerospace Corporation
Venus Aerospace Corporation was awarded $3.9 million to construct a rocket engine test facility at the Houston Spaceport located at Ellington Airport. This facility will support Venus Aerospace’s development of hypersonic vehicles and be available to other organizations.
Unanimous Approval with One Dissenting Vote
The commission board granted approval to four of the five grants unanimously. The grant for KULR Technology Group saw a dissenting vote from Heather Wilson, president of the University of Texas at El Paso, who did not elaborate on her reasons for voting against the funding.
Texas Poised to Lead the Space Economy
“The projects receiving funding today are crucial in ensuring Texas maintains its position as a frontrunner in the burgeoning space economy and strengthens our national capabilities,” stated Gwen Griffin, chair of the Texas Space Commission board, emphasizing the strategic importance of these investments.
Funding Stemming from 2023 Appropriation
These awards are financed through a $150 million allocation from the Texas Legislature in 2023. This legislative action also established the Texas Space Commission and the Texas Aerospace Research and Space Economy Consortium, known as TARSEC. To date, the commission has committed $95.3 million of these funds.
Further Funding Under Consideration
The Texas Space Commission is currently evaluating submitted proposals for the remaining funds. A call for proposals, which concluded in January, garnered 284 applications totaling a combined value of $3.46 billion, highlighting significant interest in the state’s space initiatives.
Looking ahead, there is potential for additional funding as the Texas Legislature is currently in session. Norm Garza, executive director of the committee, indicated at the AIAA ASCENDxTexas conference in Houston this past February, that the high volume of applications could signal a strong demand to lawmakers to consider increasing the financial resources available to the space commission.
Legislative Support for Space Initiatives
Echoing this sentiment at the same conference, Representative Greg Bonnen, chair of the House Appropriations Committee and a key advocate for the commission, expressed optimism for further resource allocation. “Hopefully, the budget will reflect additional resource allocation beyond what has already been committed,” Bonnen stated.
“Cleanup Legislation” and Industry Support
On the same day the Texas Space Commission board convened, Representative Bonnen and other officials addressed a legislative committee to discuss a bill refining the law that established the commission and TARSEC. Bonnen described this bill as “cleanup legislation” designed to enhance certain aspects of the previous session’s legislative framework. One key aspect includes the elimination of a spaceport trust fund, initially intended to support the growth and development of spaceports within the state.
Executives from Firefly Aerospace and Starlab Space – both prior grant recipients from the Texas Space Commission in February – voiced their support for the legislation and the commission’s initiatives at the hearing, showcasing industry alignment with the state’s space program.