Texas Space Commission receives briefings from state and federal entities 4/1/2025

Austin, TX – Yesterday, during an Open Meeting, the Texas Space Commission (TSC) board of directors heard invited presentations from a state and a federal agency about how their respective priorities are aligned advancing aerospace in the state of Texas. 

"Yesterday, we heard from Caroline Mays with the Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) and Jim Rabuck with the Defense Innovation Unit (DIU),” said Gwen Griffin, chair of the TSC board. "Caroline outlined a TxDOT assessment of transportation networks across the state that support space sector businesses, and Jim briefed the Board about DIU funding programs that may be applicable for companies in Texas working on innovative technologies regarding space." 

According to their website, DIU is the only Department of Defense (DoD) organization focused exclusively on fielding and scaling technology across the U.S. military at commercial speeds. Its work is in seven critical technology sectors and engages directly within the venture capital and commercial technology innovation ecosystem to strengthen national security by bolstering our innovation bases. With offices in Austin, Boston, Chicago, Silicon Valley, and inside the Pentagon, DIU is the Department’s gateway to leading technology companies across the country. 

"There is a great deal of focus on the kind of technology, research, and workforce necessary to support the commercial space industry in Texas," said Norman Garza, Jr., executive director of the Texas Space Commission. "It was very helpful for the Commission to hear from partner agencies, TxDOT and DIU, about how we can leverage resources as well as information to help advance the space exploration economy in Texas." 

In 2023, the 88th Texas Legislature passed, and Governor Greg Abbott signed, House Bill 3447 by Representative Greg Bonnen M.D. to establish the TSC as well as the Texas Aerospace Research & Space Economy Consortium (TARSEC). The total appropriation made by the Legislature for the Space Exploration & Aerospace Research Fund (SEARF) grant program is $150 million. Between September 2024 and January 2025, TSC received 281 applications from 140 unique entities that totaled $3.4 billion in funding requests for proposed projects. 

The TSC board of directors did not consider any SEARF grant proposals during their meeting. In previous Open Meetings, however, the TSC Board has conditionally approved nine projects with a combined total of $69.2 million in grants awarded. The TSC board of directors plans to meet again later this month.