Space Workforce Incubator for Texas (SWIFT)

Do you work in the Texas space industry? Then this happy hour event is for you! 🚀 ⬇️ 🥂 Join us on Tuesday, May 6 for Ecosystem Space, where Texas's brightest minds in the space industry come to collide, create, and push the boundaries of what's possible. Hosted by Space Workforce Incubator for Texas (SWIFT) and the Texas Space Alliance, this new monthly gathering will bring together visionaries, innovators, and disruptors who are shaping the future of our sector! Join us from 5 - 7 p.m. on May 6 at Capital Factory for an evening that promises new insights and fresh perspectives on the challenges and opportunities within the space industry. This isn’t your typical networking event. Ecosystem Space is all about real action. No pitches, no panels - but a place for open dialogue, where the industry's trailblazers come together to share ideas, brainstorm solutions, and tackle the key issues that are propelling the Texas space ecosystem forward. Whether you’re an industry leader, a startup founder, or someone who’s passionate about the future of space, this event is a unique opportunity to be part of the conversation and contribute to driving meaningful change. Thanks so much to our sponsors Capital Factory, Juice Consulting, New Space Hub, Starbase Brewing and Still Austin Whiskey Co. for being a part of this! Yes, complimentary libations will be flowing :) While space is infinite, our space for this event is limited. RSVPs will be reviewed and approved in advance based on available space. More info here on how to RSVP: https://lnkd.in/gt3t6SFs Got questions? Don’t hesitate to reach out to info@swiftrocket.org. Dr. Leon Vanstone, Geoff Tudor, Joseph Kopser, Harvin Moore, Sandy Barker, Heather Wagner Reed, Brent Kaiser, Eric McManus, Texas Space Commission, Texas 2036

Our very own SWIFT Co-Founder Dr. Leon Vanstone will be among this very esteemed panel tomorrow night at Austin's Q-Branch along with Eric McManus of the TX Space Force Assoc and Texas Space Alliance, Ryan Cole of Firefly Aerospace, Dr. David Alexander of the Rice Space Institute and 📡🚀🌒Sam Peterson of Cislunar International. 📡🚀🌒 More on the panel: As the race to commercialize space accelerates, Austin has emerged as a dynamic hub for entrepreneurship and innovation beyond Earth’s atmosphere. This rapid evolution raises critical questions about the future and the opportunities that lie ahead. At this event, you will hear from an engaging panel discussion featuring entrepreneurs, scientists, and leaders from the Texas Space community. Together, we will explore the groundbreaking innovations and companies that are defining the Space Economy, while also addressing the essential needs for education, investment, and entrepreneurial support to propel this sector forward. This is a fantastic opportunity to connect with industry leaders, visionaries, and fellow enthusiasts who are shaping the future of space exploration and dive into discussions about the challenges and opportunities that lie ahead in this exciting field. Stellar bites & sips provided. You can RSVP to attend here: https://lnkd.in/gyKSKSBz Thank you to Brent Kaiser and New Space Hub for forging all the collaboration! Geoff Tudor Joseph Kopser Harvin Moore Sandy Barker Heather Wagner Reed

One of our very own Joseph Kopser, co-founder of SWIFT, got to meeting NASA Astronaut and Moonwalker, Charlie Duke, at the Space Center Houston, at Space Walk II hosted by Capital Factory. Follow Space Workforce Incubator for Texas (SWIFT) and Capital Factory to learn more about how you can participate in the growing space workforce in Texas.

🌌 Is This the First Whiff of Alien Life? 🧪 Exciting news breaking today: astronomers have detected signatures of life—specifically dimethyl sulfide (DMS)—in the atmosphere of exoplanet K2-18b (conceptual rendering below), a planet 2.6X the Earth's diameter located in the constellation Leo some 120 light-years away. On Earth, DMS is only produced by microbial life. This is not confirmation of alien organisms, but it's the strongest clue we’ve ever had. K2-18b sits in the "Goldilocks zone" of its star—where conditions might allow liquid water to exist—and it's now part of a growing list of planets that could host life. But here's what really blew my mind 😯 : 💫 Astronomers estimate there may be 100 billion habitable planets in our galaxy alone. Multiply that across the 2 trillion galaxies in the observable universe… and you get a number so large it’s nearly unfathomable. To put it into perspective: There are more potentially habitable planets in the universe than tablespoons of water in all of Earth's oceans. 🌊 Let that sink in. We are standing at the edge of a cosmic revelation—and the search for life beyond Earth is just heating up. #K218b #Astrobiology #SpaceExploration #JWST #Exoplanets #Curiosity #STEM #ScienceCommunication

Huge day for space in Texas! This all female crew made us all so proud - and what a six person crew it was! It was exhilarating to see and congrats to Blue Origin for this successful NS-31 mission. #historic #westtexas #soproud

So proud of our very own Dr. Leon Vanstone for his involvement in this leading edge conversation!

SWIFT hits the Tall City. Last week, SWIFT joined the Texas Space Alliance for an incredible trip to Midland, TX—a city with big skies, bold vision, and a growing place in the future of aerospace. We toured the Midland International Air & Space Port, stood alongside a spaceplane, explored a historic spacesuit development facility, and witnessed firsthand the groundwork that’s setting the stage for the next generation of space innovation. In these photos: Dr. Leon Vanstone and Geoff Tudor of SWIFT, Texas Space Force Association's Eric McManus of TSA and Brent Kaiser of New Space Hub, and the one and only Lockheed Jr., carrying forward a legacy of aerospace excellence with vision and clarity. Special thanks to the Midland Development Corporation, Midland City Council, and Councilman Brian Stubbs for their generosity and support. From the insights of Lockheed Jr. to the leadership of the Texas Space Commission, it’s clear: when we bring this kind of energy together, Texas doesn’t just participate in the space economy—we lead it. Go Texas. A win for Midland is a win for us all. #SWIFT #TexasSpaceAlliance #TexasSpaceCommission #MidlandTX #SpacePlane #ASTSpaceMobile #Spacesuits #LockheedLegacy #SpaceEconomy #AerospaceRising #GoTexas Joseph Kopser, Harvin Moore, Sandy Barker, Heather Wagner Reed

Check out this exciting piece about space industry development in surrounding counties from this week's Austin Business Journal where SWIFT co-founders Geoff Tudor and Dr. Leon Vanstone were mentioned 🚀 ⬇️ "On the heels of Cedar Park-based Firefly Aerospace Inc. successfully putting a lunar lander on the Moon, counties adjacent to Austin are taking a step to grow the Central Texas space industry. The Williamson County Commissioners Court on March 11 unanimously approved the creation and bylaws of the Central Texas Spaceport Development Corp., an entity being formed in partnership with Burnet County." "Williamson and Burnet counties aren't alone in the region in seeing big potential in the space sector. For instance, Austin-based serial entrepreneurs Geoff Tudor and Leon Vanstone have launched a nonprofit that aims to make Texas a global aerospace hub and build a pipeline of aerospace talent to fill a growing number of roles in the industry." https://lnkd.in/gmeat3Nr Joseph Kopser Harvin Moore Sandy Barker Heather Wagner Reed

Our SWIFT team members Geoff Tudor, Dr. Leon Vanstone and Joseph Kopser with Texas State Technical College, Austin Community College and our friends at Firefly Aerospace 🚀🚀

Our SWIFT team had some amazing moments as SXSW 2025 rolled into town. The space sector programming was truly incredible this year! Here are some shots of us from the NASA House: CreateSpace activation to panels on workforce and the future of our sector (as well as getting to hang with industry visionaries such as Jason Kim of Firefly Aerospace - just before their landing party!) Dr. Leon Vanstone Geoff Tudor Harvin Moore Joseph Kopser Heather Wagner Reed