**Astrolab Becomes First Tenant at Texas A&M’s $200M Space Institute**
California-based space robotics company Astrolab has announced plans to lease space at the Texas A&M University Space Institute, currently under construction near NASA’s Johnson Space Center in Houston. The Institute, which broke ground in November 2024, is supported by $200 million in state funding and will feature specialized test beds designed to simulate the lunar and Martian surfaces.
Astrolab has been selected by NASA as one of the companies to develop the Lunar Terrain Vehicle (LTV), a next-generation lunar rover intended to support the Artemis III mission by transporting astronauts across the moon’s surface. The Houston Business Journal reports that Astrolab anticipates more than 200 employees will be based in Houston by the end of 2026 to support the effort.
The company’s proposed rover platform, the Flexible Logistics & Exploration (FLEX) rover, is designed to carry up to 1,600 kilograms and three cubic meters of cargo on the lunar surface. It also features a robotic arm for precise payload placement.
Once completed, the Space Institute will open at full occupancy, with Astrolab as its first confirmed tenant.
