NASA’s SpaceX Crew-9 mission has finally concluded after an unexpected nine-month journey to the International Space Station (ISS). The astronauts aboard; Butch Wilmore, Suni Williams and Nick Hague and Roscosmos cosmonaut Aleksandr Gorbunov, successfully touched down in Florida on Tuesday evening.  Wilmore and Williams launched into space aboard Boeing’s Starliner in June 2024 as part of NASA’s Boeing Crew Flight Test. Originally planned as a one-week mission, their stay was extended due to technical issues with the spacecraft, leading them to join NASA’s SpaceX Crew-10 mission.  NASA reports that during their mission, Williams and Wilmore traveled 121,347,491 miles, spent 286 days in space and completed 4,576 orbits around Earth. However, their prolonged exposure to microgravity could have brought potential health risks. Studies have shown that extended time in space can have a significant impact on the human body, resulting in muscle atrophy, bone density loss, cardiovascular changes, visual impairments and even an increased risk of cancer. This makes post-mission health assessments and continued research critical.  Upon their return to Earth, the astronauts reunited with their families before being flown to Houston for a comprehensive health evaluation and quarantine at NASA Johnson Space Center (JSC). With long-duration missions becoming more common as NASA prepares for human exploration beyond low Earth orbit, the health data from Crew-9’s return will play a vital role in shaping future spaceflight standards.  As a leader in both aerospace and healthcare, Houston is the ideal location for these crucial post-mission assessments. The city is home to world-renowned research institutions like Baylor College of Medicine (BCM), which houses the Translational Research Institute for Space Health (TRISH), a collaboration with the California Institute of Technology and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. TRISH plays a key role in studying the health impacts of space travel and developing countermeasures to address the challenges astronauts face in space, ensuring their long-term well-being as they prepare for future missions.  While TRISH will not be directly conducting the astronauts' health evaluations, the findings from Crew-9’s return could contribute significantly to its ongoing research efforts.  “NASA conducts all health examinations for its astronauts,” Dr. Dorit Donoviel, Executive Director of TRISH, told the Greater Houston Partnership. “While TRISH is not conducting research on the NASA astronauts who returned from space earlier this week, we are confident that Butch and Suni’s extended stay in space will provide invaluable knowledge and insights that will add to our shared goal with NASA of keeping humans healthy during long-duration space missions. Similar data is collected from TRISH’s commercial spaceflight research program, EXPAND, from civilians. Our goal is to get a comprehensive idea of how the human body responds to spaceflight. Private and public partnerships like these allow for us to all move toward furthering human exploration and continue to examine how the harsh environment of space can challenge the body to better prepare astronauts for future missions.”    Last year, TRISH announced a new initiative with Blue Origin, an aerospace company known for its reusable rocket engines, to conduct biomedical research on passengers flying on the company’s New Shepard rocket.  “This initiative enables TRISH to further our research in space medicine by collecting valuable human health data,” said Jimmy Wu, TRISH deputy director and chief engineer and assistant professor at BCM, in a news release. “New data from suborbital flights builds our understanding of how the human body responds to spaceflight. This holistic view is key in keeping humans healthy and safe in space.”  Splashdown confirmed! #Crew9 is now back on Earth in their @SpaceX Dragon spacecraft. pic.twitter.com/G5tVyqFbAu — NASA (@NASA) March 18, 2025 Learn more about Houston’s aerospace industry. 

The emergence of Battery and Energy Storage Systems (BESS) has revolutionized the energy landscape, enabling greater flexibility and efficiency in power generation and consumption. As renewable energy sources become more prevalent, BESS provides a complementary yet critical solution for storing excess energy during peak production and releasing it when demand is high or generation is low. These systems enhance grid stability through a diversification of power sources. As these sources continue to grow into prominence, we have seen their positive impact in the region. With a growing push for resiliency, these systems will strengthen Houston’s quality of life as well as its local business environment. While BESS can provide the Houston region benefits, the Houston region also offers a lot to this growing energy solution. Given the wealth of energy leadership, Texas isn’t just the nation’s energy powerhouse - it’s the perfect ecosystem for BESS innovation. Here’s why: Energy Market LeadershipTexas is home to the Electric Reliability Council of Texas (ERCOT), one of the most dynamic and competitive energy markets in the world. ERCOT’s grid provides a fertile ground for the integration of BESS, enabling grid resilience and reducing costs. Renewable Energy GrowthAs per the Energy Information Administration (EIA) - the Lone Star state has 42,000 megawatts (MW) of wind power, 22,000 MW of solar farms and 6,500 MW of utility-scale battery capacity in place as of the end of 2024 – thus dominating the development of renewable energy generation and battery capacity within the United States. Regulatory and Economic IncentivesPrograms like the Texas Energy Fund (TEF), coupled with local initiatives, create an enabling environment for developers. Strategic Geography and ExpertiseThe Greater Houston Region offers unparalleled infrastructure, skilled labor, and proximity to industrial hubs, making it a natural choice for BESS investments. Houston Region: The Emerging Epicenter of BESS As the Energy Capital of the World, Houston is uniquely positioned to lead this transformative sector of BESS, leveraging high growth, grid demand, and strategic projects across the Greater Houston region. From League City’s 150 MW project to Texas City’s groundbreaking initiatives and Galveston County’s Gridstor project (to name a few), Houston is laying the foundation for a resilient energy future. Key Projects Powering BESS Momentum 1. League City: Fostering community engagement The recent approval of a 150 MW Peregrine Energy facility in League City exemplifies how the city is setting the standard for sustainable energy development. Working closely with the community and stakeholders provided opportunities to address concerns of the residents and pave the way for transformative investments in the greater Houston region. The city’s forward-thinking ordinance re energy storage includes: Plume modeling and 24/7 monitoring to ensure safety. Emergency response plans and comprehensive decommissioning requirements. Transparent engagement with residents to address concerns and build trust. These efforts transformed the initial community pushback into support, highlighting how thoughtful regulation and outreach can lead to success. Additionally, a 10 MW BESS facility, regulated by the city, further demonstrates how the Greater Houston region is scaling energy storage to meet growing demands. 2. Texas City: Scaling Ambition Texas City is attracting large-scale energy storage projects which will play a crucial role in grid reliability and energy transition. Historically, strict zoning regulations posed challenges for BESS projects, but the city is now transitioning to a Site Plan approval process, making it easier for BESS projects to set up operations while maintaining safety standards. Additionally, Texas City has been collaborating with Bluestem Energy Solutions to refine its approach to BESS implementation, ensuring smoother project approvals and better integration with local energy infrastructure. The city is also prioritizing community engagement and conversations with industry experts to train its staff while working closely with fire safety professionals to address potential hazards, reinforcing its commitment to both innovation and safety in the energy transition. 3. Galveston County: Expanding Regional ImpactGalveston County continues to attract strategic BESS investments, including the Gridstor Battery Energy Storage Project, which recently started construction. This facility is expected to enhance grid reliability and support renewable energy integration across the Greater Houston region. Additionally, the Shepard Energy Storage project is advancing efforts to bolster energy stability in Galveston County, emphasizing the importance of energy storage in maintaining grid resilience. These projects illustrate how high growth and intense grid demand drive companies to locate here, even without significant tax abatements. 4. City of Houston: The first large-scale BESS The City of Houston is now home to the first battery storage project of its scale, with the Jupiter Power 200MW/400MWh Callisto I Energy Center. Operational as of summer 2024, this project provides potential for stability and resiliency with any extreme weather affecting the area. How the Greater Houston Partnership is Driving Growth The Partnership is committed to ensuring the region remains a global leader in energy storage. Here’s how the Partnership is advancing this vision: Engaging communities and stakeholdersAs the world transitions to energy-abundant, low-carbon energy solutions, the Partnership’s Houston Energy Transition Initiative (HETI) collaborated with the Houston Advanced Research Center (HARC), Sallie Greenberg Consulting (SGC) and released a Climate Equity Report, which includes the Framework for an Equitable Energy Transition and the Community Engagement Toolkit. This was developed to help foster positive, two-way communication and engagement between Houston-area energy companies and the communities they impact.  Advocating for supportive policies and ensuring strategic partnershipsStrengthening Houston's thriving business environment is critical to our members' mission of making Houston the best place to live, work and build a business.The Partnership collaborates with stakeholders and advocates for strong public policy at all levels of government that fosters long-term growth and upward economic mobility for the region. Preparing a workforce that is equitable and inclusiveThrough initiatives like UpSkill Houston and One Houston Together, the Partnership ensures the region’s workforce is ready to meet the demands of emerging technologies like BESS. The Path Forward Houston’s leadership in BESS is transforming the energy landscape, and the region is setting a national standard for innovation, community engagement, and economic growth. HETI is supporting these efforts to ensure Houston remains at the forefront of the energy transition. As BESS becomes an essential tool for grid resilience and emission reductions, Houston is poised to power the future. To learn more about the all-inclusive energy ecosystem in Houston, visit our energy focus page.