Texas Space Commission Awards Grant to ILC Astrospace, LLC

Austin, TX – The Texas Space Commission (TSC) announced a Space Exploration & Aeronautics Research Fund (SEARF) grant of up to $4,494,354 has been awarded to ILC Astrospace, LLC for development of their Texas Portable Life Support System (Tex-PLSS).

This project would develop a prototype Primary Life Support System (PLSS) tailored to Low Earth Orbit (LEO) requirements and incorporate Extravehicular Mobility Unit (EMU)-level redundancy. This investment will enable completion of key systems reviews, development and procurement of preliminary subsystems, as well as full proof-of-concept testing to validate performance and readiness for its design phase. Through these activities, ILC Astrospace will advance Texas-based capabilities for next-generation human spaceflight support systems.

This grant award will strengthen Texas’ position in human spaceflight innovation and expand in-state capabilities for life support technology critical to future low-earth orbit (LEO), lunar, as well as deep space missions.

TSC funding will reimburse eligible expenditures for research and development, equipment, subsystem fabrication, as well as other direct costs associated with this project. This grant agreement termination date is April 30, 2028.

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About ILC Astrospace, LLC 
ILC Astrospace is a pioneering company in the development and manufacturing of soft goods for space exploration, including spacesuits, inflatable space habitats, and landing airbags. A leader in technical expertise for defense solutions, ILC also provides a mix of highly technical soft goods for harsh environments and logistical expertise for tethered aerostats, passenger airships, high-altitude airships, and heavy lift structures for a variety of government customers. 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