Travis Scott, Space Center Houston launch STEM incubator for HISD students

HOUSTON – Houston students got a front-row seat to the future of space exploration this week, and the chance to show off designs inspired by it.

Travis Scott’s Cactus Jack Design Center and Space Center Houston have officially launched a new year-round STEM incubator partnership, giving Houston Independent School District students hands-on experience with real-world engineering, design and technology.

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The partnership wrapped up its first major milestone Thursday night with a student design showcase, marking the conclusion of the fall 2025 engineering incubator program. The initiative was created by the Cactus Jack Foundation in collaboration with Space Center Houston, the official visitor center of NASA’s Johnson Space Center.

Over eight weeks, HISD students worked alongside NASA engineers, learning everything from design concepts and computer coding to fabrication and testing. The program alternated weekly between the Cact.Us Design Center and Space Center Houston, giving students exposure to both creative design spaces and scientific research environments.

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Students were divided into design teams and walked through the full engineering process, brainstorming ideas, building prototypes, testing them and refining their final solutions. The projects tackled challenges inspired by space exploration, including a lunar water filtration system, a lunar exploration rover and a habitat structure designed to preserve food in space.

The final designs were presented to Travis Scott, as well as retired NASA astronaut Megan McArthur, who now serves as Space Center Houston’s chief science officer. Education leaders from Space Center Houston were also on hand to review the student work and discuss how the program could continue to grow.

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Organizers say the incubator is designed to spark long-term interest in STEM careers while showing students how creativity, engineering and problem-solving intersect, especially in a city deeply connected to space exploration.

The partnership is expected to continue year-round, with additional cohorts of students participating in future engineering and design programs.