Houston’s aerospace sector is getting another boost. The Texas Space Commission (TSC) awarded Rice University a $14.1 million grant to set up the Center for Space Technologies.
The new center will be housed within the Rice Space Institute and will focus on research and development, technology transfer and innovation, statewide partnerships, workforce development and space-focused education programs.
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The award is the final grant from the $150 million approved during the 2023 state legislative session. In total, the commission has funded 24 projects, with Houston-area companies and Rice accounting for 10 of those awards, totaling nearly $75 million.
Notable Houston companies include:
- Intuitive Machines
- Axiom Space
- Aegis Aerospace
- Starlab Space
- Venus Aerospace
“This portfolio consists of advancing sustainable human lunar exploration and discovery with a primary focus on In-Situ Resource Development and Utilization (ISRDU) that is a key element of NASA’s Artemis program,” said Gwen Griffin, chair of the TSC board, in a news release.
Last year, the TSC received an additional $300 million in state funding for future grant awards.
In 2023, the state Legislature also approved $200 million for the Texas A&M Space Institute, expected to be completed this year. Confirmed tenants include Houston-based Intuitive Machines, California-based Astrolab and Washington-based Interlune, which received $4.8 million to establish operations at the new facility.
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Together, these investments further position Houston and Texas at the forefront of space exploration and research.
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