89R17968 EME-D
By: Middleton S.R. No. 318
R E S O L U T I O N
WHEREAS, The State of Texas has played a central role in the
history and advancement of space exploration, and its continuing
leadership in the space industry remains a proud and defining
element of the state's identity; and
WHEREAS, Texas is home to more than 2,000 aerospace,
aviation, and defense businesses, including commercial spaceports
operating in Houston, Midland, McGregor, Van Horn, and Boca Chica;
long a cornerstone of America's space program, NASA's Lyndon
B. Johnson Space Center in Houston serves as the hub for astronaut
training and oversees mission control for the International Space
Station, which in 2025 is celebrating 25 years of continuous human
presence in space; among the Lone Star State's other major
aerospace landmarks is the Midland International Air & Space Port,
the first airport in the U.S. with both passenger air service and a
commercial spaceport license; and
WHEREAS, The robust space industry in Texas generates
$11 billion per year in gross product; the state's aerospace,
defense, and aviation sectors together employ 145,000 Texans, and
18 of the world's 20 leading aerospace companies have operations in
Texas; NASA alone invests more than $2.5 billion in the state
annually, while providing over 10,000 contract and civil service
jobs; the agency also engages some 2,000 students and educators
through its Texas High School Aerospace Scholars program and other
statewide STEM initiatives, and it facilitates research and
development through partnerships with Texas universities; the
state's space-related economy is further bolstered by Space Center
Houston and the Bay Area Houston Economic Partnership's Space
Alliance Technology Outreach Program, which each generate more than
$200 million in economic impact; and
WHEREAS, Demonstrating its commitment to the continued
strength of the space industry, the State of Texas launched the
Texas Space Commission with the goal of driving commercial
aerospace growth and fostering innovation in the areas of space
exploration, research, and development; alongside this endeavor,
the state established the Texas Aerospace Research and Space
Economy Consortium and the Space Exploration and Aeronautics
Research Fund to support research efforts and award grants to
businesses, government entities, and nonprofits involved in space
exploration and science; funding provided by the State Legislature
has also helped advance The Texas A&M University System's endeavors
in space research and technology development, and construction is
currently underway on the Texas A&M University Space Institute in
the Johnson Space Center's new Exploration Park; and
WHEREAS, The commercialization of various NASA space
technologies has fueled significant innovation in Texas; the agency
continues to be at the forefront of advancements in aeronautics,
space science, and exploration through initiatives such as the
Artemis campaign, the Gateway space station, the Extravehicular
Activity and Human Surface Mobility Program, and the Human Landing
System program, which is enabling SpaceX and Blue Origin's
commercial lunar landing services; additionally, NASA's Commercial
Lunar Payload Services contracts are empowering companies such as
Firefly Aerospace and Intuitive Machines to deliver payloads to the
lunar surface in March 2025; and
WHEREAS, Through ongoing investments in the state's space
economy, Texas is charting new frontiers in an industry that holds
limitless potential for the future of humanity, and the observance
of Space Day serves to promote awareness of its importance to the
continued vitality of the Lone Star State; now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED, That the Senate of the 89th Texas Legislature
hereby recognize March 25, 2025, as Space Day at the State Capitol
and pay tribute to the immeasurable contributions made by the Texas
space economy to our state and nation.