New East Austin rocket lab launches to train the next generation of Texas space leaders

AUSTIN, Texas — As the rapidly expanding space sector continues to thrive in Texas, two organizations are teaming up to train the industry’s future leaders.

The Space Workforce Incubator for Texas, or SWIFT, and the Hayes Innovation Center for Advanced Manufacturing, or HICAM, announced their plan to launch an inaugural rocket lab this fall. The SWIFT Rocket Lab will run out of HICAM’s 50,000-square-foot facility in East Austin and integrate training in aerospace and advanced manufacturing for local students.

“This is about creating a launchpad for the next generation of Texas industry,” Innovation Center Executive Director Marcus Metzger said in a release. “Rockets represent the pinnacle of advanced manufacturing, pushing the boundaries of what's possible in materials, design and automation. By launching the SWIFT Rocket Lab at our facility, we are not just building hardware; we are building a direct pipeline from the classroom to the cosmos, and cementing Texas's role as a leader in both space and manufacturing.”

Students from Austin Community College’s rocket club and surrounding institutions will design, build and manufacture rockets and prototype aerospace components. The idea to pair manufacturing with aerospace training stems from their philosophy the two are interdependent.

“This collaboration reflects our belief that space and advanced manufacturing must grow together,” Geoff Tudor, president of SWIFT, said in a release. “The SWIFT Rocket Lab at HICAM will provide hands-on experience blending design, fabrication and testing of supersonic rocket structures into one experience — exactly the vertical integration that space companies need as their competitive edge.”

It's a timely launch for students hoping to enter the space industry. With an increased demand for commercial investment and space-based services, the global space economy is projected to grow to $1.8 trillion by 2035, according to the World Economic Forum. Leon Vanstone, co-founder of SWIFT, said they aim to boost entry into the aerospace workforce.  

"If you go talk to employers like SpaceX, Firefly and Blue Origin, what they'll tell you is that what they're looking for in the students they recruit is they want to see an example where a student tries something and it failed…They learn from that." Vanstone said according to the Austin Business Journal.

The rocket lab plans to collaborate with aerospace and advanced manufacturing companies in Texas, according to the Austin American-Statesman. It will additionally pursue grants opportunities and funding from entities such the Texas Space Commission.

SWIFT, a nonprofit 501(c)(3), began last year to address a need for increased training and education within the space industry. HICAM is an economic and workforce development nonprofit focused on accelerating innovation in advanced manufacturing. Their facility includes classrooms equipped to support manufacturing.

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