Johnson Celebrates New Alternatives for House Business in Texas

NASA’s Johnson House Middle was not too long ago concerned in two main bulletins with essential implications for the way forward for house exploration and the aerospace trade.

On Feb. 29, 2024, NASA introduced that the American Middle for Manufacturing and Innovation (ACMI) signed an settlement to change into a tenant at Johnson’s 240-acre Exploration Park. ACMI will lease a portion of the underutilized land to develop a House Techniques Campus that permits industrial and protection house manufacturing. The campus will incorporate an utilized analysis facility partnered with a number of stakeholders throughout academia, state and native authorities, the Division of Protection, and regional financial growth organizations.

NASA signed a separate lease with the Texas A&M College System earlier this yr. Each agreements characterize key achievements for Johnson’s Dare | Unite | Discover, with commitments targeted on sustaining the middle’s place because the hub of human spaceflight, growing strategic partnerships, and paving the way in which for a thriving house financial system. 

Johnson Middle Director Vanessa Wyche shared the information on the Bay Space Houston Financial Partnership’s aerospace advisory committee assembly on March 6, emphasizing the settlement’s worth to NASA, the State of Texas, and the nation. “At JSC, now we have a imaginative and prescient to dare to broaden frontiers and unite with our companions to probe for the advantage of all humanity. Immediately’s announcement is a significant factor of bringing that imaginative and prescient to fruition,” she mentioned. “The way forward for Texas’ legacy in aerospace is shiny as Exploration Park will create an unparalleled aerospace, financial, enterprise growth, analysis and innovation area throughout the state.”

Texas’ function in house exploration and aerospace growth was additionally highlighted throughout Governor Greg Abbott’s go to to Johnson on March 26. Abbott toured the Mission Management Middle and spoke to native Texan and NASA astronaut Loral O’Hara aboard the Worldwide House Station earlier than becoming a member of Wyche and different state leaders to announce the launch of the Texas House Fee and the Texas Aerospace Analysis and House Financial system Consortium. Chatting with media in Johnson’s House Automobile Mockup Facility, Abbott mentioned that these new entities will promote innovation within the fields of house exploration and industrial aerospace, together with by figuring out analysis and growth alternatives. 

“We’re so excited for what the Texas House Fee will deliver to the state of Texas and the flourishing aerospace trade right here,” mentioned Wyche. “With continued funding within the area, the Texas financial system will profit considerably from the ancillary job creation and development ensuing from new aerospace corporations within the state.”

A number of former NASA workers have been named to the Fee’s inaugural board of administrators and the Consortium’s first govt committee. They embrace Kathy Lueders, John Shannon, Kirk Shireman, Matt Ondler, Robert Ambrose, Brian Freedman, and former astronauts Nancy Currie-Gregg and Jack “2fish” Fischer.