Texas Space Commission

What Texas Space Commission does

The Texas Space Commission (TSC) is a state government agency of the State of Texas, established in 2023 through House Bill 3447 signed by Governor Greg Abbott. Headquartered at the Greer Building at 125 E 11th Street in Austin, Texas, TSC's primary function is administering the Space Exploration & Aeronautics Research Fund (SEARF), which provides grants to businesses, nonprofits, and governmental entities (including institutions of higher education) involved in space exploration, research, and aeronautics. The 88th Texas Legislature appropriated $150 million to SEARF in 2023; this initial appropriation was fully committed across 24 projects by February 2026, and some sources reference a total $450 million SEARF Trust allocation. The first SEARF application window (September 2024 to January 2025) received 284 grant requests from 140 unique entities totaling $3.46 billion, demonstrating 23x oversubscription.

TSC does not develop technology products itself; instead, it disburses capital and convenes stakeholders across civil, commercial, military, and academic space domains. Its "customers" — the grant recipients — include SpaceX ($7.5M for Gigabay Starship), Blue Origin ($7M for subcooling propellant), Firefly Aerospace ($8.2M for Central Texas Spacecraft Development Center), Intuitive Machines ($10M for Zephyr Orbital FabLab), Starlab Space ($15M for commercial space station integration labs), Axiom Space ($5.5M for orbital data center), CesiumAstro ($10M for satellite manufacturing), Rice University ($14.15M for lunar regolith technologies), and UT Austin ($9.27M for Space Domain Awareness lab). Reimbursement is tied to eligible expenditures rather than milestone equity or royalties.

TSC is governed by a Board of Directors appointed by the Governor and led by Chair Gwen Griffin, with Vice Chair Kathy Lueders (former SpaceX Starbase GM and NASA associate administrator) and Secretary Kirk Shireman (Lockheed Martin VP). The inaugural Executive Director is Norman Garza Jr. The agency maintains strategic partnerships with NASA Johnson Space Center, U.S. Space Force, SpaceWERX, Defense Innovation Unit, Space Foundation, and Texas universities to coordinate federal and state space initiatives, with a focus on supporting NASA's Artemis program and establishing Texas as the U.S. center for the modern space economy.

Name

Texas Space Commission

Legal name

Texas Space Commission

Website

https://space.texas.gov

Company type

Private

Founded year

2023

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

The Texas Space Commission is a Texas state government agency established in 2023 that administers the $150 million Space Exploration & Aeronautics Research Fund (SEARF), awarding grants to commercial aerospace firms, universities, and government entities to grow the state's civil, commercial, military, and academic space economy.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Government Grant Administration - Space Industry Development

NAICS

Space Research and Technology (927), Space Research and Technology (9271)

SIC

Federal & Federally-Sponsored Credit Agencies (6111)

akta.pro primary industry

International Science, Technology & Space Cooperation Organizations (BPADAAAK)

akta.pro secondary industries

Spacecraft & Satellites (Civil/Commercial) (IMABACAB), Spacecraft Propulsion (In-Space) & Thrusters (IMABACAE), Space Logistics & In-Orbit Servicing (Refueling, Tug, Debris Removal) (IMABACAM)

Keywords

• Space exploration grants
• Aerospace industry development
• Government research funding
• Commercial space incentives
• Space economy facilitation

Headquarters

HQ city

Austin

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. State Appropriations: The Texas Space Commission operates through state appropriations from the Texas Legislature. In 2023, the 88th Texas Legislature appropriated $150 million to the Space Exploration & Aeronautics Research Fund (SEARF) for grants to space-related businesses, nonprofits, and governmental entities. The commission's news page mentions a total appropriation of $450 million for the SEARF Trust.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

The Texas Space Commission is a state government agency that administers the Space Exploration & Aeronautics Research Fund (SEARF) grant program, awarding funding to businesses, nonprofits, and governmental entities (including institutions of higher education) involved in space exploration, research, or aeronautics. The commission awards grants on a reimbursement basis through a process of open application windows, board review, and approval at public meetings, supporting emerging technology development for human spaceflight, R&D for space exploration, workforce training, materials curation, and spaceport infrastructure development.

Product overview

The Texas Space Commission is a state government agency established in 2023 by the 88th Texas Legislature through House Bill 3447. It does not offer commercial products or services in the traditional sense. Its primary function is administering the Space Exploration & Aeronautics Research Fund (SEARF) grant program, which provides funding to businesses, nonprofits, and governmental entities involved in space exploration, research, or aeronautics. The agency facilitates civil, commercial, military, and academic advancements in the space sector. To date, the Texas Legislature has appropriated $150 million to SEARF, which has been fully committed to 24 grant recipients. The agency's activities include awarding grants, hosting board meetings, and facilitating partnerships between industry, academia, and government entities to strengthen Texas's position in the space economy.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Space Exploration & Aeronautics Research Fund (SEARF): The grant program administered by the Texas Space Commission that provides funding to businesses, nonprofits, and governmental entities involved in space exploration, research or aeronautics industry

Products and services

• Space Exploration & Aeronautics Research Fund (SEARF) Grant Program The Space Exploration & Aeronautics Research Fund (SEARF) provides grants to businesses, nonprofits, and governmental entities (including institutions of higher education) involved in space exploration, research, or aeronautics. Grants are awarded as reimbursements for eligible expenditures upon completion of deliverables, with applications accepted during open windows, board-reviewed, and approved at public meetings. As of February 2026, the program has fully committed $150 million across 24 grant recipients.

Quantifiable outcome

• $150 million awarded to 24 projects, with $3.46 billion in applications received from 140 entities
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers20 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Twelve partnerships are on record, tiered major, core and minor.

• Rice UniversitymajorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 16 March 2026Rice University received $14.2 million from TSC for the Center for Space Technologies at Rice Space Institute. The center will develop technologies to convert lunar regolith into 3D-printed tools and parts. Collaboration involves multiple universities and industry partners for NASA's Artemis Program.
• University of Texas at AustinmajorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 26 February 2026UT Austin received $9.3 million seed fund grant to establish the Space Domain Awareness (SDA) Tools, Applications, and Processing Lab. This is the first academic institution to partner directly with U.S. Space Force for space domain awareness tools.
• U.S. Space ForcemajorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 24 February 2026Partnership between TSC and U.S. Space Force to expand Space Domain Awareness Accelerator. $9.27 million grant to UT Austin for SDA innovation node, funding lab buildout, operator training, and secure infrastructure.
• Aegis AerospacecoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 6 January 2026Aegis Aerospace received $10 million SEARF grant for Advanced Materials Manufacturing Platform (AMMP) to establish world's first in-space advanced materials manufacturing facility in LEO, partnering with United Semiconductors LLC.
• Texas A&MmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerTexas A&M received $200 million state funding for a space institute. TSC board director Dr. Nancy Currie-Gregg serves as director of Texas A&M Space Institute.
• Space FoundationcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership with Space Foundation to host Innovate Space: Finance Forum, bringing together executives, investors, and public-sector leaders to accelerate the space economy.
• SpaceWERXcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSpaceWERX (innovation arm of U.S. Space Force) provides briefings to TSC board about funding programs enabling commercialization of priority space technologies.
• Defense Innovation Unit (DIU)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerDIU briefed the TSC board about funding programs applicable for Texas companies working on innovative space technologies. DIU is the DoD organization focused on fielding commercial technology across the U.S. military.
• Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerTxDOT presented assessment of transportation networks across Texas supporting space sector businesses. Collaboration on infrastructure planning for aerospace industry.
• Space Center HoustonminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerTSC Board Chair Gwen Griffin serves as member of Space Center Houston Board of Directors, fostering connection between TSC and major space industry hub.
• NASA Johnson Space CentermajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerMultiple TSC partnerships support NASA's Artemis Program and Moon Base initiative. UT Austin, Rice University, and Interlune all have projects supporting NASA lunar exploration objectives.
• Venus AerospacecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerBoard Director Sassie Duggleby is CEO of Venus Aerospace. Company received $3.9 million SEARF grant for RDRE Testing Facility. Venus completed first test flight of rotating detonation rocket engine in May 2025.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves9 records

Expansion highlights7 records

Direct peers

• Space Florida: Florida's state spaceport authority and aerospace economic development agency, administering state incentives for space companies. Directly comparable as a state-level grant/incentive mechanism competing with TSC for space industry footprint.
• New Mexico Spaceport Authority: State agency operating Spaceport America, with authority to incentivize and attract space industry to New Mexico. Comparable in scale, mandate, and funding mechanisms to TSC.
• Virginia Space Authority (Mid-Atlantic Regional Spaceport): Virginia's state-chartered space authority that owns and operates the Mid-Atlantic Regional Spaceport on Wallops Island. Comparable state-level entity driving commercial space infrastructure and industry attraction.
• California Space Authority (folded into GO-Biz): California's former state space advocacy and economic development organization, now operating under the Governor's Office of Business and Economic Development. Directly comparable in facilitating California's space industry growth.

Regional players

• Alaska Aerospace Corporation: State-owned corporation managing the Pacific Spaceport Complex in Kodiak. Comparable state-entity mandate focused on launch infrastructure and aerospace economic development in a different geography.
• Arizona Commerce Authority (Space Industry Focus): Arizona's state economic development agency with active space/aerospace industry programs. Comparable in promoting aerospace industry attraction in a competing Southwestern geography.
• Alabama Space Science Exhibit Commission / Huntsville/Marshall Industry Offices: Alabama's state-level aerospace economic development efforts anchored by the Huntsville/Marshall Space Flight Center ecosystem. Comparable in funding and facilitating space industry within state borders.
• Colorado Office of Economic Development & International Trade (Aerospace): Colorado's state economic development office running the Colorado Aerospace Industry Cluster. Comparable in state-level industry promotion and incentive design.

Broad incumbents

• NASA Office of STEM Engagement: Federal agency funding space research and STEM education nationwide, including grantees in Texas. Overlapping mission with TSC's STEM and university-research grantmaking, but at federal scale and broader scope.

Others

• Space Foundation: National nonprofit promoting space industry and education. TSC is an active partner via the Innovate Space: Finance Forum; comparable as an ecosystem enabler, not a direct funder.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/TXSpaceComm
• YouTubeyoutube.com/@TXSpaceComm
• Facebookfacebook.com/TXSpaceComm
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/texas-space-commission
• Instagraminstagram.com/TXSpaceComm

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles10 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments7 records

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Texas Space Commission