Texas A&M University Space Institute Director Dr. Nancy Currie-Gregg plants a flag for the new institute during a groundbreaking ceremony.
Texas A&M College of Engineering
A groundbreaking ceremony for the Texas A&M University Space Institute was celebrated on Nov. 15, marked by the planting of the institute’s flag by Dr. Nancy Currie-Gregg, director of the institute, professor of engineering practice at Texas A&M and a former NASA astronaut.
“This new $200 million facility, here next to NASA’s Johnson Space Center in Houston, will support training for missions, including simulated landings on the moon and Mars, as well as advanced research and development in aeronautics, robotics, and other fields,” said Bill Mahomes ’69, chairman of The Texas A&M University System Board of Regents. “The facility will be vital for partnerships, both research and commercial, that help Texas businesses as well as NASA stay at the forefront of the final frontier.”
The Texas A&M Space Institute positions the university as a national leader in the critical and expanding field of space engineering. The institute is uniquely positioned to train the next generation of space experts by equipping students with the skills needed for a rapidly expanding space industry. With this new opportunity, Texas A&M is pioneering the future of space exploration, securing the safety of our ventures beyond Earth, and ensuring that Texas remains at the forefront of this new space age.
“As space exploration expands, there will be a growing demand for highly skilled engineers, scientists, and professionals. Texas A&M is ready,” said Texas A&M University System Chancellor John Sharp ’72. “With this new facility, A&M will create workforce development opportunities in space-related fields.”
Texas House Bill 3447, authored by Rep. Greg Bonnen ’88 and sponsored in the Senate by Sen. Joan Huffman, received the support of Gov. Greg Abbott, Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick, Speaker of the House Dade Phelan and the entire Texas Legislature. The $350 million investment, including $200 million allocated for the new facility at Johnson Space Center’s Exploration Park, will propel Texas to the forefront of the space economy. This has laid the foundation for advancements that will benefit not just Texas, but the entire nation.