Houston, TX (NEXSTAR) -- Astronauts, state representatives and engineers gathered in celebration on a wide-open field at Johnson Space Center on Friday. Former astronaut Nancy Currie-Gregg strode amid tall grass and planted a Texas A&M University flag on what will soon be the Texas A&M Space Institute.
"We're going to have a replica of the moon's lunar surface and a replica of the Mars surface that's going to allow not only NASA but dozens and dozens, if not hundreds, of private sector companies to come in and utilize space and test the equipment that they, hope to use in space," said Texas A&M Chancellor John Sharp.
The $200 million facility, funded by the state, will feature two 2.5-acre landscapes, one for Mars and one for the moon, where scientists can design and test rovers, spacesuits and robots.
"Throughout the decades, a lot of the technologies that go into medicine, that go into computing, start with the space program. And we hope to continue that legacy on behalf of all Texans," said Currie-Gregg.
The facility will have a variety of labs and garages for the various rovers and tech developed there. "It's not just about orbiting anymore. It's about colonizing the south pole of the moon. It's about, colonizing Mars," Sharp said.
Rishi Jangale and Derek Pravecek, Ph.D. students at Texas A&M, showcased some of the tech that will be tested at the facility. Their exhibit -- a hamster ball-esque robot that can stride across almost any surface.
"It's buoyant and it's sealed. So like, dust and, other particulates can't get inside. And not a lot of robots in the world can handle sand," Pravecek said.
In order to build the lunar surface, NASA will truck in "84 carloads of moon dust from Laredo". Since the moon was formed from a chunk of the Earth breaking away, kalachi works as a substitute.
For Mars soil, speakers joked they're looking for something between maroon and burnt orange.
At the event, lunar rovers and robots showcased some of the tech that would be tested at the facility.
"It's not about what we can do to support the very few people like myself to get to leave the planet, but it's what we can do in space for the betterment of all Texans here, across the state," said Currie-Gregg.
Norman Garza, executive director of Texas Space Commission, said that the facility will open up Texas to new business.
"The new capabilities here within this particular building, you can guarantee that the Space Commission is going to be highlighting those, moving forward," said Garza.
The facility is expected to be completed in 22 months. It will be built on 32 acres at NASA's Johnson Space Center. The facility will be operated through a lease agreement between NASA and Texas A&M.
The project was formed following Texas House Bill 3447. That bill's author, Rep. Greg Bonnen, R-Friendswood, was at the event. That bill also formed the Texas Space Commission.
