John Shannon, nominated to the Texas Space Commission, told the Senate Committee on Nominations that Texas has become a national leader in aerospace and space activity and that the commission’s role is to accelerate private-sector and institutional innovation.

Shannon described growth in the sector, citing work by companies that built recent lunar landers in Texas and launch activity in McGregor and Boca Chica. He said the commission has received more than 281 grant applications totaling roughly $3.5 billion in requested funding and that the commission must apply a rubric to prioritize awards from a $150 million CERF (Commercialization and Expansion Revolving Fund) balance.

The commission’s rubric, Shannon said, evaluates technical feasibility (technology readiness level), potential to create jobs and the applicant’s ability to secure additional funding if the commission provides partial support. Shannon told the committee the commission favors investments that serve as a credibility signal to attract private investment when the commission’s funding is catalytic rather than sufficient to cover all project costs.

Shannon said the commission is evaluating proposals from private companies and institutes of higher education and stressed the commission’s goal to support both commercial activity and university-led research. The committee recorded his testimony for the nomination packet to be transmitted to the full Senate.