Skip to main content
Add as a preferred source on Google

Texas A&M Breaks Ground on New Space Institute

  • By Matt Jones
  • 11/21/24

The Texas A&M University Space Institute recently broke ground next to NASA’s Johnson Space Center in Houston, Texas, according to a news release. The Nov. 15 groundbreaking ceremony followed the Nov. 7 approval by the Texas A&M University System’s Board of Regents of $200 million for the facility’s construction. The building will stand four stories and include research “garages” for research, lab space, classrooms, administrative space, and an auditorium, according to local news.

“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, Texas A&M University System Board of Regents chairman. “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 facility’s ultimate purpose is to place the university at the forefront of space engineering research and train students to meet the industry’s growing demand for professionals.

“Texas A&M officially added ‘space-grant university’ to our mission 35 years ago and we’re proud of all that has been accomplished by our world-class faculty over the years since then,” said Texas A&M President General (Ret.) Mark A. Welsh III. “Thanks to generous support from the state Legislature, this new institute will significantly elevate the university’s reputation as a global leader in space research, aeronautics and innovation, drawing attention from academia, government and private industry worldwide.”

According to local news, the building will cover 32 acres and include landscapes that recreate the surfaces of Mars and the moon, each the size of a football stadium.

The new facility will play a role in Mars exploration, lunar missions, and simulations for living on Mars and the moon. Its research facilities will also go toward developing technology like space suits, rovers, landers, and more, according to the news release.

About the Author

Matt Jones is senior editor of Spaces4Learning. He can be reached at [email protected].

Featured

  • Minnesota Middle School Finishes $23.5M Addition and Modernization

    Highland Park Middle School in St. Paul, Minn., recently announced the completion of a $23.5-million addition and remodel project, according to a news release. Saint Paul Public Schools partnered with ATS&R Planners, Architects & Engineers for its design and Kraus-Anderson for its construction.

  • T&T Construction Management Group Completes Pasco High School Expansion

    Pasco High School in Dade City, Fla., recently announced that it has completed an expansion project in partnership with T&T Construction Management Group, Inc., Harvard Jolly Architecture, and Williams Company.

  • LAN, Inc. Opens Office in College Station, Texas

    Lockwood, Andrews & Newnam, Inc. (LAN) recently announced the opening of a new office in College Station, Texas, to support its regional client base, according to a news release. The organization provides engineering, design, and program management services for water, wastewater, transportation, stormwater, and education clients in the Brazos Valley.

  • Texas State University Completes Stadium Renovations

    Texas State University in San Marcos, Texas, recently announced that it has completed a series of additions and renovations to its football stadium, according to a news release. Formerly known as the Bobcat Stadium End Zone Complex, the Johnny and Nathali Weisman Football Performance Center is an 85,000-square-foot expansion featuring hospitality spaces, banquet spaces, exterior concourses, and upgrades to the field house.

Digital Edition