The Texas Space Coalition, an El Paso-based nonprofit organization, is developing integrated regional ecosystems to advance Texas' space industry by connecting academic, industry, and government leaders. Executive Director Mike Pryor outlined the coalition's mission to ignite innovation, stimulate economic development, and retain high-value talent in communities across the state during a recent interview on The Building Texas Show.
The coalition focuses on creating partnerships that drive tangible outcomes: universities secure research grants, companies access skilled talent, and government programs align with industry needs. "It's like someone took the space rocket Lego set and laid it out on the table," said Pryor. "All the parts are here in El Paso—light manufacturing, UTEP's Aerospace Center, White Sands Test Facility, and a synchronized local government. We're connecting them to build a thriving space economy."
El Paso's unique assets position it as a strategic hub for aerospace and space activity. The University of Texas at El Paso (UTEP) Aerospace Center produces high-quality engineering talent, while the region's light manufacturing and metallurgy expertise supports advanced component production. Regional collaborations with New Mexico State University, Spaceport America, and Van Horn create a cross-border innovation corridor, and proximity to White Sands Missile Range and Fort Bliss provides testing and research opportunities.
A core goal of the coalition is addressing the brain drain that affects many Texas communities. Pryor shared, "It breaks my heart to see a PhD in aerospace engineering get in their car and drive off to another state. Those are family members leaving—it's a brain drain and a heart drain." By linking students and skilled workers to local space industry opportunities, the coalition aims to build intact, thriving communities while keeping families together.
The coalition will host an in-person "Launch & Learn" seminar on February 24, 2026, from 5:00–6:30 p.m. MT at the Coronado Country Club in El Paso. The event will bring together industry professionals, academic leaders, and government representatives to explore partnership opportunities, workforce development, and regional strategies for growing Texas' space sector.
Following a successful inaugural conference in November 2024 that connected 150 industry, academic, and government leaders, the coalition is now expanding its regional ecosystem model to other Texas communities with aerospace ambitions. "We're an equal-opportunity helper," Pryor noted. "Space is about looking up—to the stars and to big ideas. There's no better place to pursue them than Texas."
This initiative matters because it represents a strategic approach to building sustainable space industry clusters that can compete nationally while keeping economic benefits within Texas communities. By creating integrated ecosystems rather than isolated efforts, the coalition addresses multiple challenges simultaneously: workforce development, research commercialization, business growth, and community retention. The expansion of this model statewide could position Texas as a leader in the growing space economy while strengthening local economies across diverse regions.
Businesses, academic institutions, government agencies, and economic development organizations interested in space ecosystem development can find more information at TxSpaceCoalition.org. The full interview with Mike Pryor is available on The Building Show's YouTube Channel.
