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UT System and NASA Expand Space Research Collaboration

lite News Desk 2 min read

At a glance

  • UT System and NASA signed a Space Act Agreement in January 2026
  • Texas Space Commission awarded UT Austin over $9 million for orbital tracking research
  • NASA’s FY2026 budget is $24.4 billion, with increased science funding

The University of Texas System and NASA’s Johnson Space Center formalized a new partnership in January 2026 to enhance research, workforce development, and STEM engagement across Texas institutions.

This agreement establishes direct collaboration between all 13 UT System institutions and NASA, linking university researchers and students with NASA staff, programs, and projects. UT Austin’s Center for Space Research and the Texas Advanced Computing Center are among the facilities involved in this expanded cooperation.

In February 2026, Archie Holmes, Executive Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs at the UT System, led planning sessions to organize the research, student involvement, and workforce development elements of the agreement. These discussions focused on connecting academic resources with NASA’s ongoing initiatives.

Federal and state funding has played a central role in supporting these efforts. In December 2025, the Texas Space Commission approved a grant exceeding $9 million for UT Austin to establish a Space Domain Awareness project lab dedicated to orbital object tracking research.

What the numbers show

  • UT Austin reported $1.37 billion in research spending for 2025
  • 62% of UT Austin’s research funding in 2025 came from federal sources
  • UT System’s total research expenditures reached $4.7 billion in fiscal year 2024
  • NASA’s Science Mission Directorate received $7.25 billion in FY2026
  • Texas Space Commission awarded UT Austin grants of $9.2 million and $9.3 million in December 2025

UT Austin has seen its federal research funding more than double over the past decade. The broader UT System also experienced nearly 90% growth in total research expenditures during the same period, reaching $4.7 billion by fiscal year 2024.

NASA’s budget for fiscal year 2026, enacted in January 2026, totals $24.4 billion. This budget maintains strong federal support for space research and includes $7.25 billion allocated to the Science Mission Directorate, with increases directed toward astrophysics and heliophysics programs.

The Space Act Agreement is expected to facilitate new opportunities for students and researchers across Texas, leveraging both federal and state investments in space science and technology. The collaboration aims to connect academic expertise with NASA’s mission objectives and ongoing projects.

Institutions within the UT System, including UT Austin, are positioned to expand their involvement in space-related research and workforce training through these coordinated efforts and funding streams. The agreement and recent grants reflect ongoing trends in public investment in space research and education.

* This article is based on publicly available information at the time of writing.

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