HOUSTON, TX (October 11, 2025) – Cactus Jack Foundation and Space Center Houston, the Official Visitor Center of NASA Johnson Space Center, launched a unique STEM program today.
The eight-week-long initiative aims to heighten engagement of HISD students with a design and engineering-focused curriculum. The nonprofit organizations will bring educational resources to the students that unlock new principles in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) problem solving, while teaching essential skills for future careers in engineering, design, and space exploration.
“We are proud to be in partnership with the Cactus Jack Foundation as we prepare the next generation of creators and problem solvers from the heart of Houston,” said William T. Harris, president and CEO of Space Center Houston. “We believe that space is for everyone, and we want to bring them closer to the wonders and curiosity we find ourselves faced with every day.”
Students will be immersed in tackling today’s real-world challenges of space habitation, such as water scarcity, power generation, and habitat design—developing innovative, practical solutions to these critical issues.
“Partnering with Space Center Houston is truly a lifelong dream for Travis and the Webster family,” said Jordan Webster, director of Education Partnerships for the Cactus Jack Foundation. “We have always been inspired by NASA. Through the Cactus Jack Foundation, our mission is to open new educational pathways for youth so they can accelerate in STEM and see themselves as the innovators and explorers of tomorrow. This is just the beginning of what’s to come with Space Center Houston, and we couldn’t be more excited to build a future where our kids can dream bigger than ever before.”
Through a mix of virtual and in-person workshops, the STEM program will host hands-on build events on three Saturdays at TXRX Labs – a Houston nonprofit makerspace, committed to equipping youth with valuable technical skills.
Here, students will collaborate with NASA engineers to form design teams and take part in the engineering process, from brainstorming and prototyping to testing and refining their solutions.
Throughout the course of the program, students will learn key innovation and engineering skills, including design sketching, CAD (Computer-Aided Design) modeling, systems thinking, and fabrication. Student teams will also develop low, medium and high-fidelity prototypes using advanced digital design software, 3D printing technology, and state-of-the-art fabrication equipment at TXRX Labs.
“Opportunities like this are being offered to help enrich our students’ lives and inspire them to pursue careers in fields where they can not only thrive but also bring back solutions to their communities,” said Travis Scott, founder of the Cactus Jack Foundation.
The program will conclude with a final showcase on December 19 where students will present their engineered designs to industry professionals alongside Scott at Space Center Houston.
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ABOUT CACTUS JACK FOUNDATION
Founded by music artist Travis Scott, the Cactus Jack Foundation’s mission is to empower and enrich the lives of youth by providing access to education and creative resources to ensure long-term success.
ABOUT CACT.US DESIGN CENTER
The CACT.US DESIGN CENTER at TXRX Labs is a youth focused design school founded by Cactus Jack Foundation. It opened on November 3rd, 2021 with hundreds of middle and high school students enrolled who are passionate about design and engineering. Bespoke programs include Cact.Us Sneaker Lab powered by Nike & Design Ethos 101 Education powered by Fashion Scholarship Fund. The fully operational 60,000 square foot state of the art facility is located in Houston, Texas.
ABOUT SPACE CENTER HOUSTON
Space Center Houston’s shared purpose is to bring people and space closer together. Over 1.3 million visitors and more than 250,000 students and educators visit each year to connect with the significance of space exploration to pursue a path in STEM or follow along as incredible feats of human spaceflight continue to make new discoveries. Space Center Houston is owned by the Manned Space Flight Education Foundation, a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization, and generates an annual $118M economic impact to the Greater Houston area. Space Center Houston is a Smithsonian Affiliate, the Official Visitor Center of NASA Johnson Space Center, and a Certified Autism Center. Learn more at spacecenter.org.
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