The University of Texas System and NASA’s Johnson Space Center have formalized a new partnership by signing a Space Act Agreement aimed at enhancing research collaboration, workforce development, and educational engagement related to space exploration and national security.
“It’s an exciting time for the UT System and NASA to come together in new ways because Texas is at the epicenter of America’s space future. It’s an area where America is dominant, and we are committed as a university system to maintaining and growing that dominance,” said UT System Chancellor John M. Zerwas MD.
Vanessa Wyche, Director of NASA’s Johnson Space Center, stated, “NASA’s Johnson Space Center has a long history of working with colleges and universities to help us achieve our human spaceflight missions. We are eager to partner with the UT System to collaborate in vital research and technology development initiatives that will enable us to meet our nation’s exploration goals and advance the future of space exploration.”
This agreement continues a longstanding relationship between UT institutions and NASA. Notably, twelve graduates from UT Austin have become astronauts who collectively spent more than 500 days in space. Programs such as the aerospace medicine residency at UT Medical Branch and the space medicine program at UT Health Houston provide training for astronauts focused on health and performance in space environments. Additionally, UT El Paso operates a Digital Engineering Design Center with NASA, while research at UT San Antonio explores areas like hypersonic flow, aerodynamics, and atmospheric science through NASA grants.
The agreement will leverage resources across all 13 institutions within the UT System. Key assets include the Center for Space Research at UT Austin; the Texas Advanced Computing Center which supports modeling innovations in rocket propulsion; the Cybersecurity Manufacturing Innovation Institution at UT San Antonio focused on satellite protection; UTRGV’s STARGATE lab adjacent to SpaceX’s launch site; along with various other research facilities throughout the system.
Beyond its work with NASA, since 2021 the UT System has partnered directly with the U.S. Space Force under an agreement supporting advanced research initiatives and workforce training.
Collaboration extends to state government efforts as well. In 2023, Texas lawmakers established the Texas Space Commission which recently approved a $9.27 million grant for orbital object tracking research at UT Austin. In 2025, they created Texas Cyber Command headquartered at UT San Antonio—the first state agency based outside of Austin.
Texas currently hosts over 2,100 aerospace companies—including major industry leaders—and employs more than 165,000 people in aerospace jobs statewide.
“We’re living through a unique moment where aerospace innovation, national security, economic transformation, and scientific discovery are converging like never before in Texas,” added Zerwas. “UT institutions are uniquely positioned to partner with NASA in building a stronger and safer Texas.”
