SENATE RESOLUTION NO. 318
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 State of Texas, 89th
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.
Middleton
Alvarado Hagenbuch Menéndez Alvarado Hagenbuch Menéndez
Alvarado Hagenbuch Menéndez
Bettencourt Hall Miles Bettencourt Hall Miles
Bettencourt Hall Miles
Birdwell Hancock Nichols Birdwell Hancock Nichols
Birdwell Hancock Nichols
Blanco Hinojosa of Hidalgo Parker Blanco Hinojosa of Hidalgo Parker
Blanco Hinojosa of Hidalgo Parker
Campbell Hinojosa of Nueces Paxton Campbell Hinojosa of Nueces Paxton
Campbell Hinojosa of Nueces Paxton
Cook Huffman Perry Cook Huffman Perry
Cook Huffman Perry
Creighton Hughes Schwertner Creighton Hughes Schwertner
Creighton Hughes Schwertner
Eckhardt Johnson Sparks Eckhardt Johnson Sparks
Eckhardt Johnson Sparks
Flores King West Flores King West
Flores King West
Gutierrez Kolkhorst Zaffirini Gutierrez Kolkhorst Zaffirini
Gutierrez Kolkhorst Zaffirini
Patrick, President of the Senate
________________________________
President of the Senate
I hereby certify that the
above Resolution was adopted by
the Senate on March 25, 2025.
________________________________
Secretary of the Senate
________________________________
Member, Texas Senate
Alvarado Hagenbuch Menéndez
Bettencourt Hall Miles
Birdwell Hancock Nichols
Blanco Hinojosa of Hidalgo Parker
Campbell Hinojosa of Nueces Paxton
Cook Huffman Perry
Creighton Hughes Schwertner
Eckhardt Johnson Sparks
Flores King West
Gutierrez Kolkhorst Zaffirini