Aegis Aerospace and Texas A&M University are teaming up to launch a new research facility on the International Space Station (ISS).   The Texas A&M / Aegis Aerospace Multi-Use Space Platform Integrating Research & Innovative Technology (TAMU-SPIRIT) facility will exclusively house the university’s experiments, serving as a dedicated hub for in-space research, technology testing, advanced materials manufacturing, robotics development, space surveillance and tracking.   “As a space-grant university, Texas A&M has led the way in space research and exploration for decades,” said General (Ret.) Mark A. Welsh III, president of Texas A&M University, in a news release. “Now, thanks to our partnership with Aegis Aerospace and support from Chancellor Sharp and The Texas A&M University System Board of Regents, the TAMU-SPIRIT Flight Facility will pave the way for Aggie researchers to push the boundaries of space innovation. Our research is already out of this world; it’s fitting that we’re making it official.”  Texas A&M will host an open call for research proposals every six months to select experiments for TAMU-SPIRIT, inviting researchers from diverse disciplines to submit their ideas. Selected experiments will be transported in individual science carriers, equipped with power and data storage, and robotically installed on the facility. Once completed, experiments will return to Earth for further analysis, offering insights into the effects of space exposure on various materials and technologies.  Webster-based Aegis Aerospace will own and operate the TAMU-SPIRIT facility, providing funding, supplies and services to support Texas A&M’s experiments in reaching the ISS.  “This partnership is a wonderful opportunity for Texas A&M to do something bold,” said Stephanie Murphy, CEO and Chairman of Aegis Aerospace, in a statement. “As far as I am aware, TAMU-SPIRIT will make Texas A&M the first university with private access to a flight facility on the International Space Station.”  The TAMU-SPIRIT is expected to take two years to develop and will be modeled after Aegis’ MISSE Flight Facility, a platform launched in 2018. The first Texas A&M-led experiments are scheduled for launch in 2027.  The university is also establishing its own Space Institute near NASA’s Johnson Space Center, a state-of-the-art research and training facility supported by the Texas Space Commission. The Texas A&M Space Institute, which broke ground last year, is slated for completion late next year.  Learn more about Houston’s thriving aerospace industry. 

One of the key components of the "Texas Miracle" has always been a robust public education system. That’s why continuing to improve funding for education and strengthening the accountability system are top priorities for the Greater Houston Partnership. Whether you are a veteran in education policy or looking for a refresher ahead of the 89th Texas Legislature, here are five questions to get you thinking about how we approach education in Texas.  How is public education funded in Texas? Public Education in Texas is funded from three sources:   Local property taxes  Determined by the value of properties in each district and the tax rate set by each school board. State appropriations Funded through numerous state taxes, including Texas’ sales tax. Federal appropriations It broadly covers the costs of providing meals and supporting disabled and low-income students. What happened with education funding in the 2023 Texas Legislative Session? Legislators made several attempts to increase public school funding in 2023 via numerous bills. For example, HB100 would have raised the basic allotment (baseline per-pupil funding) for the first time since 2019. HB4586 would have mandated annual increases to the basic allotment. SB9 would have raised teacher salaries and expanded funding for early childhood education. These bills eventually failed due to political differences and the legislative session’s very short 140-day timeline. Additional education funding was provided in other ways, however:  HB1605 provided additional funding to schools that adopt high-quality instructional materials, and HB3 provided additional funds for school safety.  How do we maintain or strengthen accountability for education across Texas? School accountability is about more than just a grade – school accountability happens when families and stakeholders are provided clear and accurate data on schools, schools receive ratings based on students’ academic proficiency, and there are consequences – high-performing schools are rewarded and recognized. In contrast, low-performing schools are required to implement intervention plans. How do we measure success in Public Education, and what policies can improve outcomes?  Public Education is successful when it prepares students to succeed upon graduation, whether through college, a career, or the military. Student outcomes can be improved through policies prioritizing high academic proficiency, school safety, and teacher recruitment and retention. What other education policy discussions will be popular in Austin this session? AI’s integration into education will be an essential issue to watch. AI has many applications to assist teachers and students, and schools are eager to embrace the new technology.  Teacher workforce issues will also be a central topic. Texas has been working to improve teacher recruitment and retention for several years, and those conversations are expected to continue in 2025. Learn more about the Partnership's Legislative Priorities, click here. For more updates and alerts on the Texas Legislature, click here to sign up for our weekly newsletter.