SpaceX has won $7.5 million in grants from the Texas Space Commission, from a total pot of $47.7 million awarded to five companies.
SpaceX has been named one of four applicants granted funds through the Texas Space Commission’s (TSC) Space Exploration and Aeronautics Research Fund. The space exploration company was awarded $7.5 million. Arch rival Blue Origin, Firefly Aerospace, Intuitive Machines, and Starlab Space shared about $40 million.
The funds will support emerging technologies, research, employee training, and infrastructure development in the space industry. SpaceX has revealed that the money will go toward setting up a new vertical integration facility in Texas.
The grant program is funded to the tune of $150 million. Last month, the first round released $21.5 million, supporting projects in El Paso, San Angelo, and Lubbock. Another round is scheduled for March.
TSC board chairperson Gwen Griffin said, “Today’s awards will support Texas companies as we grow commercial, military and civil aerospace activity across the state. We look forward to awarding more grants as we work through all the applications.”
SpaceX is ramping up its development of the Starship. It has applied for permission for up to 25 spacecraft launches every year. The last test flight saw another successful catch of the booster, but the upper stage exploded.
