NASA has announced a new collaboration with the American Center for Manufacturing and Innovation (ACMI) to lease underutilized land at the Johnson Space Center in Houston. The agreement, signed on February 29, marks the agency's second public/private lease agreement aimed at advancing commercial and defense space manufacturing.

By leasing a portion of the 240-acre Exploration Park, ACMI will facilitate the development of cutting-edge facilities for commercial and defense space manufacturing activities. This initiative aims to enhance the United States' commercial competitiveness in the space and aerospace industries.

The newly-formed Space Systems Campus, as envisioned by ACMI, will house an applied research facility that will foster collaboration among academic researchers, the Department of Defense, state and local government entities, and regional economic development organizations. This multidisciplinary approach is expected to drive innovation in areas such as robotics, autonomous systems, and materials science as they pertain to space systems.

NASA Johnson Director Vanessa Wyche expressed excitement over the new lease, stating that the Space Systems Campus will play a vital role in fostering a robust and durable space economy. Not only will it support the agency's objectives for exploring the Moon, Mars, and asteroids, but it will also have far-reaching benefits for humanity as research findings are applied back on Earth.

Exploration Park, which is adjacent to NASA Johnson's main campus, will facilitate a multi-use environment where academic researchers, aerospace companies, and entrepreneurs can collaborate with NASA. The park will enable the development of an infrastructure that supports space hardware development and addresses the greatest challenges in space exploration.

John Burer, founder of ACMI, expressed pride in supporting NASA and the broader commercial space industry through this partnership. ACMI aims to develop the Space Systems Campus to cater to the needs of various stakeholders, with a particular focus on scaling emerging technologies and space system manufacturing.

The lease agreement with ACMI comes after NASA issued a call for proposals in June 2023 for the usage of the undeveloped and underutilized land near Saturn Lane. Negotiations have concluded, and the lease will be in effect for 20 years, with options for two 20-year extensions, potentially spanning up to 60 years.

Looking ahead, NASA, along with its academic, commercial, and international partners, will witness significant milestones in space exploration, including the completion of the International Space Station Program, commercial development of low Earth orbit, and the Artemis campaign missions, which aim to establish a sustainable human presence on the Moon in preparation for manned missions to Mars.

Johnson Space Center is already at the forefront of commercializing space through programs such as commercial cargo and crew transportation to the International Space Station. The center also supports the development of commercial space stations in low Earth orbit and the creation of lunar-capable commercial spacesuits and lunar landers, which will provide services for NASA and the private sector, expediting human access to space.

With the development of Exploration Park, Johnson Space Center aims to expand the scope of the human spaceflight community and tackle the many challenges that lie ahead. As NASA continues to explore the unknown, innovate for the benefit of humanity, and inspire the world, this partnership with ACMI demonstrates the agency's commitment to advancing space manufacturing and driving the commercialization of space.