Texas Space Commission Awards Grant to Venus Aerospace

Austin, TX - The Texas Space Commission (TSC) announced a Space Exploration & Aeronautics Research Fund (SEARF) grant of up to $3.9 million has been awarded to Venus Aerospace for the design, construction, and activation of its “Rotating Detonation Rocket Engine (RDRE) Testing Facility” project.

This facility will be located in Houston and is intended to validate and scale a propulsion system that enables hypersonic flight as well as orbital-class launch vehicles. By developing this test capability in Texas, Venus Aerospace will strengthen the state’s position as a leader in dual-use space technologies.

The project timeline is set to take place over three years. The objectives included with this grant agreement are: 

• Site infrastructure, engine test pad design and fabrication: January 2024 – December 2025; 
• IT infrastructure: August 2025 – March 2026; and
• Install equipment: March 2026 – August 2026. 

These milestones will enable Venus Aerospace to accelerate development of its RDRE engine while also creating new high-tech jobs in Texas. The SEARF grant will reimburse Venus Aerospace for eligible expenditures, such as equipment, research and development, salaries, and other direct costs associated with the project

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About Venus Aerospace
Venus Aerospace has built the first generational improvement in rocket engine technology since the Apollo missions. After the fastest and most capital-efficient rocket engine development in history, on May 14, 2025, Venus executed the first ever test flight of a high-thrust rotating detonation rocket engine (RDRE), ushering in the future of rocket propulsion. Learn more. 

About the Texas Space Commission
Established by the 88th Texas Legislature in 2023 through House Bill 3447, authored by Rep. Greg Bonnen, M.D., the Texas Space Commission advances innovation in the fields of space exploration and commercial aerospace to strengthen the state’s proven leadership across civil, commercial, and military domains. To date, the total appropriation made by the Legislature for the SEARF Trust is $450 million. Learn more.

Contact
To submit a media inquiry to the Texas Space Commission, please send an email to TSCPressInquiries@space.texas.gov.