Governor Greg Abbott and the Texas Space Commission Board of Directors opened grant applications for the Space Exploration and Aeronautics Research Fund. These SEARF grant applications will be used to evaluate proposals that will help further strengthen the state’s leading position in civil, commercial, and military aerospace activity as well as enhance space commercialization and space flight infrastructure. Businesses or nonprofits involved in the space exploration, research, or aeronautics industry and governmental entities with which TSC has entered into an intergovernmental agreement are eligible to apply.
The 88th Texas Legislature appropriated $150 million for SEARF grants to eligible entities for the following purposes:
- development of emerging technologies required for any aspect of human spaceflight;
- research involving any aspect of space exploration and spaceflight;
- workforce training to promote space exploration and spaceflight;
- curation of post-mission materials involved in space exploration and spaceflight; and
- development of infrastructure useful or necessary for the establishment or maintenance of a spaceport.
Applications can be accessed at space.texas.gov and must be submitted electronically to SEARF@space.texas.gov for review. The Board will review applications from eligible private, non-profit, and governmental entities in alignment with House Bill 3447.