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A Texas flag on Mars?

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A Texas flag on Mars?


We have liftoff. The newly enacted Texas Space Commission is up and away after Gov. Greg Abbott, Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick and House Speaker Dade Phelan recently appointed the agency’s first nine-member crew, or board of directors.

State officials hope the commission, made up of some of the brightest aerospace minds on Earth, will help Texas scientists and businesses make significant advancements in space research, exploration and commercial travel. The governor’s ambitions extend to colonizing Mars.

The Texas flag flying on the red planet? That’s the dream. But the agency will be ineffective if it doesn’t remain above the political fray that plagues state politics and steer clear of potential conflicts of interest.

The 2023 state Legislature created the commission and its sister agency, the Texas Aerospace Research and Space Economy Consortium, to support and promote the state’s well-established aerospace research and industry ecosystem.

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It also set aside $350 million to fund the work of the commission, $200 million of which will go to build a Texas A&M University-led research facility on vacant land adjacent to NASA’s Johnson Space Center. The consortium’s nine-member executive committee, also recently appointed, will advise the commission on how to allocate the remaining $150 million in grants.

In addition to the Johnson Space Center, Texas is home to divisions of giants such as SpaceX, Boeing Co. and Lockheed Martin, as well as manufacturing and research operations of thousands of smaller aerospace companies. The state is poised to be a big part of the expected $1 trillion global space industry by 2040, according to the think tank Texas 2036.

The commission’s board includes communications specialist Gwen Griffin; Kathy Lueders, the general manager of Starbase at SpaceX; John Shannon, vice president of Space Exploration Systems at Boeing Co.; Sarah Duggleby, co-founder of Venus Aerospace; Kirk Shireman, vice president of Lunar Exploration Campaigns at Lockheed Martin; Evan Loomis, co-founder of futuristic homebuilder ICON; Heather Wilson, president of the University of Texas at El Paso; Nancy Currie-Gregg, director of the Texas A&M Space Institute; and Brad Morrison, founder of Atlantis Industries.

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Both the commission and consortium have lofty goals. But as with any politically appointed body, they can be vulnerable to the political games of favoritism and deal-making that taint the process. We’re glad to see that House Bill 3447, the enabling legislation authored by state Rep. Greg Bonnen, R-Friendswood, contains a section on conflicts of interest. It requires in part that any board member with a professional or financial interest in any entity seeking grant money must recuse himself or herself.

The commission and consortium also must publish regular reports, which will provide needed transparency to their activities. Both entities will be attached to the governor’s office. The commission will employ 10 people, according to legislative documents.

“Texas will be the launchpad for Mars,” Abbott declared at his announcement ceremony. We can dare to dream.

We welcome your thoughts in a letter to the editor. See the guidelines and submit your letter here. If you have problems with the form, you can submit via email at letters@dallasnews.com



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Trump says he hasn’t decided endorsement in Texas Senate race

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Trump says he hasn’t decided endorsement in Texas Senate race


President Trump is not ready to weigh in on the Republican Senate primary in Texas as early voting gets underway across the state.

Trump told reporters aboard Air Force One late Monday that the GOP race had “a ways to go,” and signaled he was not yet ready to throw his support behind incumbent Sen. John Cornyn (R-Texas) or challengers Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton (R) and Rep. Wesley Hunt (R-Texas).

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“I just haven’t made a decision on that race yet. It’s got a ways to go, and I haven’t,” Trump said when asked about his potential endorsement plans.

“I like all three of them, actually. Those are the toughest races. They’ve all supported me. They’re all good. You’re supposed to pick one, so we’ll see what happens. But I support all three,” the president added.

Trump indicated earlier this month that he was “taking a serious look” at endorsing in the race, pledging a decision soon.  

“You know, my problem is I’m friendly with all of them. I like all of them, all three,” he said at the time. “But you’ll be seeing soon,” he added. “They say whoever I endorse wins. That’s probably right.” 

Trump also said aboard Air Force One in April that he would determine a potential endorsement in the GOP primary “at the right time.”

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Cornyn is seeking the nomination for a fifth term in Washington in a closely watched, bitter primary that has attracted millions of dollars.

Early voting starts Tuesday across the Lone Star State and runs through Feb. 27, with the election to be held on March 3. If no candidate wins a majority of the vote, the top two vote-getters will advance to a May 26 runoff.

A runoff appears likely as recent polling suggests a tight three-way race. Paxton led with 31.9 percent of the vote as of Feb. 11, according to Decision Desk HQ’s polling averages, followed by Cornyn at 27.7 percent and Hunt at 19.3 percent.

A competitive primary also awaits on the Democratic side, where Rep. Jasmine Crockett (D-Texas) is facing off against Texas state Rep. James Talarico (D).

The nonpartisan Cook Political Report rates the seat as likely Republican.

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Daring rescue after researcher hurt deep underground in Texas cave

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Daring rescue after researcher hurt deep underground in Texas cave


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Rescue crews in West Texas spent hours getting a researcher out of a cave, hundreds of feet below ground, after a rock hit her in the head. Teams had to navigate steep drops and squeeze through crevices to get her to safety. NBC News’ Ryan Chandler reports.

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Walk for Peace monks return to Texas, reflection event planned

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Walk for Peace monks return to Texas, reflection event planned


After an arduous 112-day journey spanning more than 2,300 miles, a group of Buddhist monks has officially completed their cross-country “Walk for Peace.” The trek, which began in October, reached its heartfelt conclusion over the weekend as the monks returned to their home temple in Texas.

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The mission of the walk was to foster a sense of national unity and global harmony. Upon their arrival, the monks were greeted by a dedicated community of volunteers and supporters eager to hear the spiritual lessons and insights gathered from their four-month journey across the American landscape. Local residents expressed a deep “obsession” with the mission, describing the peaceful demonstration as a vital movement for the country’s current social climate.

The homecoming also featured a special appearance by Aloka, the monks’ famous four-legged companion. The dog had been sidelined several weeks ago for surgery, but after a successful recovery, he was able to join the group for the final, celebratory moments of the walk. 

While the physical miles are behind them, the monks maintain that their work to bridge divides across the world is a continuous, lifelong commitment. Venerable Bhikku Pannakara, who led the walk, made a vow to the public during a homecoming speech on Saturday.

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“I promise you all that whenever it is, you will be able to walk on this path, I will walk with you all, and together we will walk on this path. If you don’t leave me, I will not leave you,” he told supporters who gathered in the pouring rain to welcome the monks home. 

The monks have invited volunteers and the public to join them for a reflection on their journey and a special announcement at 9 p.m. Monday at the Hương Đạo Vipassana Bhavana Center in Fort Worth. A New Year lunar celebration will follow.

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How to follow the monks

For those who are unable to attend any gatherings in person, the monks are very active on social media, livestreaming and posting multiple times per day.

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Their dog, Aloka, who is also making the journey with the monks also has his own social media accounts.

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