SENATE RESOLUTION NO. 318
	WHEREAS, The State of Texas has played a central role in
	the history and advancement of space exploration, and its
	continuing leadership in the space industry remains a proud and
	defining element of the state's identity; and
	WHEREAS, Texas is home to more than 2,000 aerospace,
	aviation, and defense businesses, including commercial
	spaceports operating in Houston, Midland, McGregor, Van Horn,
	and Boca Chica; long a cornerstone of America's space program,
	NASA's Lyndon B. Johnson Space Center in Houston serves as the
	hub for astronaut training and oversees mission control for the
	International Space Station, which in 2025 is celebrating 25
	years of continuous human presence in space; among the Lone Star
	State's other major aerospace landmarks is the Midland
	International Air & Space Port, the first airport in the U.S.
	with both passenger air service and a commercial spaceport
	license; and
	WHEREAS, The robust space industry in Texas generates
	$11 billion per year in gross product; the state's aerospace,
	defense, and aviation sectors together employ 145,000 Texans,
	and 18 of the world's 20 leading aerospace companies have
	operations in Texas; NASA alone invests more than $2.5 billion in
	the state annually, while providing over 10,000 contract and
	civil service jobs; the agency also engages some 2,000 students
	and educators through its Texas High School Aerospace Scholars
	program and other statewide STEM initiatives, and it facilitates
	research and development through partnerships with Texas
	universities; the state's space-related economy is further
	bolstered by Space Center Houston and the Bay Area Houston
	Economic Partnership's Space Alliance Technology Outreach
	Program, which each generate more than $200 million in economic
	impact; and
	WHEREAS, Demonstrating its commitment to the continued
	strength of the space industry, the State of Texas launched the
	Texas Space Commission with the goal of driving commercial
	aerospace growth and fostering innovation in the areas of space
	exploration, research, and development; alongside this endeavor,
	the state established the Texas Aerospace Research and Space
	Economy Consortium and the Space Exploration and Aeronautics
	Research Fund to support research efforts and award grants to
	businesses, government entities, and nonprofits involved in
	space exploration and science; funding provided by the State
	Legislature has also helped advance The Texas A&M University
	System's endeavors in space research and technology development,
	and construction is currently underway on the Texas A&M
	University Space Institute in the Johnson Space Center's new
	Exploration Park; and
	WHEREAS, The commercialization of various NASA space
	technologies has fueled significant innovation in Texas; the
	agency continues to be at the forefront of advancements in
	aeronautics, space science, and exploration through initiatives
	such as the Artemis campaign, the Gateway space station, the
	Extravehicular Activity and Human Surface Mobility Program, and
	the Human Landing System program, which is enabling SpaceX and Blue
	Origin's commercial lunar landing services; additionally, NASA's
	Commercial Lunar Payload Services contracts are empowering
	companies such as Firefly Aerospace and Intuitive Machines to
	deliver payloads to the lunar surface in March 2025; and
	WHEREAS, Through ongoing investments in the state's space
	economy, Texas is charting new frontiers in an industry that
	holds limitless potential for the future of humanity, and the
	observance of Space Day serves to promote awareness of its
	importance to the continued vitality of the Lone Star State; now,
	therefore, be it
	RESOLVED, That the Senate of the State of Texas, 89th
	Legislature, hereby recognize March 25, 2025, as Space Day at the
	State Capitol and pay tribute to the immeasurable contributions
	made by the Texas space economy to our state and nation.
	Middleton
	Alvarado Hagenbuch Menéndez
	Bettencourt Hall Miles
	Birdwell Hancock Nichols
	Blanco Hinojosa of Hidalgo Parker
	Campbell Hinojosa of Nueces Paxton
	Cook Huffman Perry
	Creighton Hughes Schwertner
	Eckhardt Johnson Sparks
	Flores King West
	Gutierrez Kolkhorst Zaffirini
	Patrick, President of the Senate
		________________________________
		President of the Senate
		I hereby certify that the
		above Resolution was adopted by
		the Senate on March 25, 2025.
		________________________________
		Secretary of the Senate
		________________________________
		Member, Texas Senate