Launch Texas

Launch Texas is a comprehensive program in the Cockrell School of Engineering at The University of Texas at Austin that integrates world-class technical and entrepreneurial education, fundamental and applied space research and outreach in a collaborative environment. It is jointly led by the Cockrell School’s Department of Aerospace Engineering and Engineering Mechanics and UT’s Texas Innovation Center with a focus to create, foster and bring awareness to the space technology ecosystem in Austin. Launch Texas collaborates closely with the Austin startup ecosystem, corporate partners, alumni and many others to develop deep connections between UT and the community. The program has three aspirational components:

Education

Producing a new class of space-tech entrepreneurs

The new Space Tech Graduate Specialization for master’s and doctoral students is comprised of topics in aerospace tech with a solid foundation in business and entrepreneurship. Students get hands-on practice in business formation and engagement with successful space tech entrepreneurs. The program recruits mission-driven student entrepreneurs from across UT, the state, nation and world.

Exploration

Developing and advancing novel space technologies

Our vision is to raise new funding to provide seed grants to UT’s aerospace engineering research community— one of the most accomplished and respected in the world — to conduct more translatable research that will result in commercializable and the creation of startups to drive new innovations.

Enterprise

Powering the world’s space startup ecosystem

Through the Texas Innovation Center, UT has a built-in space tech venture studio that forms and develops companies to get them off the ground. Launch Texas programming will create new opportunities for participating students and researchers to receive intensive training, mentoring, and networking.

We will host a Launch Texas kickoff event this fall. Learn more about Go For Launch »

Launch Texas – Graduate Specialization Cohort #1 (Fall 2022)

Yoo-Jin Ahn, Ph.D. Student
Aerospace Engineering and Engineering Mechanics
The University of Texas at Austin

John Stuart Murray, Ph.D. Student
Aerospace Engineering and Engineering Mechanics
The University of Texas at Austin

Ruairi J Oconnor, Ph.D. Student
Aerospace Engineering and Engineering Mechanics
The University of Texas at Austin

Benjamin Diaz Villa, Ph.D. Student
Aerospace Engineering and Engineering Mechanics
The University of Texas at Austin

Alex Nettekoven, Ph.D. Student
Walker Department of Mechanical Engineering
The University of Texas at Austin

Dillon T. Ellender, Ph.D. Student
Aerospace Engineering and Engineering Mechanics
The University of Texas at Austin

Aanu Adeloye, Ph.D. Student
Aerospace Engineering and Engineering Mechanics
The University of Texas at Austin

Hailey Nichols, M.S. Student
Aerospace Engineering and Engineering Mechanics
The University of Texas at Austin

Apoorva Tejaswi Karra, Ph.D. Student
Aerospace Engineering and Engineering Mechanics
The University of Texas at Austin