Skip to main content

Houston Set to Lead the Way in Space Economy

Published Nov 26, 2019 by Melissa Fox

Spacecom panel discussion

As the first word spoken by Apollo 11 astronauts from the surface of the moon in the summer of 1969, Houston has long been synonymous with space exploration.  

Thousands of aerospace industry experts, entrepreneurs and government leaders gathered in Houston last week to address strategic issues impacting the commercial space industry at SpaceCom, the international Commercial Space Conference and Exposition.

During the two-day conference, guest speakers and experts agreed that Houston has the opportunity to once again lead the way for the new generation of space exploration, and what experts are calling the trillion-dollar space economy. 

Professionals from both NASA and the commercial space industry sat down together at one of the conference's plenary sessions to examine how the space industry has become part of the city's culture and why Houston will be the leader in the emerging commercial space industry.  

Here are the key takeaways from the panel discussion:

Houston is Space City

Space exploration has always been a part of Houston's culture. "In Houston, space is in our DNA," said panelist Steve Altemus, CEO of Intuitive Machines, an aerospace technology company based in Houston. 

This culture is very much alive for the next generation of Houstonians and is apparent with the start of the Houston Spaceport, a joint-use facility supporting NASA, operations of the U.S. military and a variety of commercial aviation tenets. Receiving its license in 2015, the Houston facility became the nation's 10th commercial spaceport. 

The panel also agreed that Houston's large entrepreneurial and stem-focused workforce, along with its multiple distribution channels, gives this region the perfect opportunity to grow the commercial space industry. "Houston is in a great position to be this beacon and to lead entrepreneurs and inspire others to go further," said panelist Rick Jenet, Director of the University of Texas Rio Grande Valley's STARGATE program

Houston is a City of Collaboration

The discussion surrounding Houston's culture led the panel to discuss the city's willingness to collaborate across sectors, including aerospace. 

Altemus explained to the audience that NASA once only worked with commercial companies when necessary. With the growth of this emerging industry, NASA, especially at the Johnson Space Center in Houston, has taken a different approach to the procurement services and new technology with commercial companies. Johnson Space Center is working with economic development organizations to create a unified and large aerospace industry throughout the region. "There have been quite a few initiatives in recent past to tear down walls of the federal institution and spread out in the community and become a stronger, more forceful voice in space [commerce]," said Altemus.   

The Houston Spaceport is also collaborating with local community college, San Jacinto College. San Jacinto launched the EDGE Center at the Houston Spaceport earlier this year. This center will allow students the opportunity to train within their chosen aerospace-focused program on location at the spaceport. 

This partnership allows for Houston's workforce to gain the skill set needed to advance the aerospace industry around the Houston region. "San Jacinto College has proven themselves good at developing programs that allow people to receive a two-year degree or a certification that allows people to upskill their job skills," said panelist Harvin Moore, President of Houston Exponential." They are working with industries and companies like their partnership with the spaceport to make sure the workforce has the skills that the industry needs." 

Learn more about innovation in Houston here. Learn more about the Houston Spaceport here.

Related News

Economic Development

Houston Region Asserts Biotech Excellence at BIO International Convention

6/25/25
The Greater Houston Partnership and regional partners showcased Houston’s thriving life sciences and biotechnology ecosystem at the 2025 BIO International Convention in Boston. As the premier annual biotechnology conference in the United States, BIO 2025 drew nearly 20,000 global attendees, offering a powerful platform to highlight the region’s momentum, innovation, and growing opportunities in the sector.    BioHouston, Galveston EDP, Partnership Lake Houston, Pearland EDC, the Sugar Land Office of Economic Development and Tourism and The Woodlands EDP presented the many assets and unique benefits the region offers to biotechnology companies from startup to full-scale, including 8 million square feet of life sciences space, strategic workforce and educational initiatives, as well as an overall favorable approach to incentives and permitting.    "Working alongside the different members of our region and telling the story of the amazing product that Greater Houston has to offer is invigorating," Galveston EDP Executive Director Joshua Owens said. "Being able to showcase our ecosystem to a worldwide audience is an exceptional step toward creating opportunities for the people of Houston."    Recent wins, such as Bionova Scientific's move to The Woodlands and United Therapeutics’ move to Generation Park, serve as testaments to the variety of options for life science businesses in our region. With pronounced capabilities in research and development, manufacturing and innovation, life sciences companies of all kinds can find a welcoming home in the Houston region.    To learn more about our life sciences and biotechnology ecosystem, visit our life sciences page. 
Read More
Digital Technology

Houston Advances Global Growth Strategy at VivaTech 2025

6/17/25
As Houston continues to expand its role as a global center for innovation and investment, the Greater Houston Partnership and Rice University led a strategic trade mission to Paris, France, to elevate the region’s presence at Viva Technology (VivaTech) 2025, the largest technology and innovation summit in Europe.  With 180,000 international attendees, VivaTech offered direct access to global business leaders, policymakers and investors exploring high-growth markets. Houston’s activation sparked opportunities for potential partnerships and drew attention from notable leaders, including French President Emmanuel Macron and Vanessa Wyche, Acting Administrator of NASA.   “They see Houston as one of the cities of the future, and they’re backing that up with their resources and attention,” stated John Cypher, the Partnership’s Vice President of International Investment and Trade. “We saw a lot of potential for partnerships that could bring more international startups to Houston and connect founders to new European markets.”  Beyond VivaTech, the delegation met with key players in France’s innovation and finance sectors, including Banque Publique d’Investissement France, Mouvement des Entreprises de France, and Station F.   The week-long trade mission also highlighted Houston’s global academic leadership with a guided visit to Rice University’s Global Paris Center, the university’s first international campus. “It’s a remarkable moment where Rice shows the world that we are an entrepreneurial-, science- and engineering-based tech accelerator,” said Caroline Levander, Rice’s Vice President for Global Strategy. The center represents a broader vision to connect Houston’s educational and entrepreneurial resources to Europe’s innovation ecosystem. The mission culminated with a reception at the former embassy of the Republic of Texas, celebrating the enduring ties between Texas and France and reinforcing a shared commitment to innovation and growth.   Houston’s role at VivaTech 2025 highlights the city’s innovation and role as a major hub for foreign direct investment. Strengthening international business ties remains a significant part of our growing economy and a way to spur further investment and advance innovation for our region.   Learn more about Houston’s growing role in the global economy.  
Read More

Related Events

Demography

2025 Houston Facts

The Greater Houston Partnership invites you to Houston Facts on Wednesday, August 6 to unveil the highly anticipated 2025 Houston Facts publication and dive deeper into…

Learn More
Learn More
Executive Partners