Sam Ximenes stands beside what he refers to as his “Frankenbot”—a specialized robot designed to excavate the lunar surface and transform moon dust into bricks—at the Boeing Tech Port Center’s Area 21 SAMSAT Museum. (Credit: Kin Man Hui for the San Antonio Report.)
Sam Ximenes comes from a distinguished lineage of Mexican American public servants. His father was a judge, one uncle was a civil rights activist, and another became the first Hispanic commissioner appointed by a U.S. president. Today, Ximenes is carving his legacy as a pioneering space architect with an ambitious vision to position San Antonio as a hub for space exploration and architecture.
Space architecture—designing and building structures for human habitation beyond Earth—is a rapidly growing field. As the demand for lunar bases, space stations, and planetary habitats increases, so does the need for a specialized workforce. Ximenes is not only advancing this industry through his companies but is also investing in the next generation by making STEM education, technology, and architecture more accessible to San Antonio students.
Following in his family’s footsteps, Ximenes embodies the values that defined their pursuit of the Mexican American dream: education, innovation, and perseverance. Born at Joint Base San Antonio-Fort Sam Houston and baptized at the historic San Fernando Cathedral, he later founded two groundbreaking companies—Exploration Architecture Corporation (XArc) and Astroport Space Technologies. These firms are leading the way in designing and developing lunar infrastructure using raw moon materials.
His work has not gone unnoticed. In 2023, his companies secured over $1 million in NASA grants to develop technologies essential for lunar landing and launch pads. However, Ximenes’ dedication extends beyond business; he founded the nonprofit WEX Foundation in 2016. Named after his late father, Judge Waldo E. Ximenes, the foundation introduces young students in San Antonio to space exploration and engineering, continuing his father’s legacy of advocating for education.
Ximenes’ career has spanned major aerospace firms, including Lockheed Martin, L-3 Communications, and Futron Corporation, but he ultimately returned to San Antonio. In May 2023, he was inducted into the San Antonio Aviation and Aerospace Hall of Fame, a testament to his impact on the industry.
His family’s contributions to public service are equally remarkable. His uncle, Vicente T. Ximenes, was the first Hispanic commissioner of the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, appointed by President Lyndon B. Johnson. Another uncle, Edward Ximenes, was the first Hispanic regent of the University of Texas System and played a pivotal role in the establishment of a UT campus in San Antonio—where a campus building and driveway now bear his name.
Although his roots trace back to Floresville, Ximenes grew up as a military child, moving frequently. At age seven, during the Cold War, he lived in Germany, where a moment of childhood curiosity left a lasting impression. Crawling through a dark cave, he discovered a box of German coins—an experience that ignited his lifelong passion for exploration.
“That sense of adventure and discovery into the darkness of that cave has never left me,” he recalled in a 2013 TEDx San Antonio talk. Today, his companies are developing technology to explore caves on the moon’s surface.
For Ximenes, the connection between space exploration and his hometown is undeniable. “You can’t tell me the economic development of this lunar base is not tied to the economic development of the community that sponsored it: San Antonio,” he said.
As his companies expand their work with major space agencies, including NASA, the U.S. military, and Virgin Galactic, Ximenes is seeing his early predictions come to life. A decade ago, he spoke about the future of private companies partnering with institutions like the Southwest Research Institute and UT San Antonio to advance space exploration. Now, he believes the next step is building a thriving space economy—specifically, a “cislunar economy” that operates between Earth and the moon.
With increased space travel and resource extraction on the moon and Mars, Ximenes envisions a critical need for fuel depots. His company, Astroport, aims to fill that gap by developing lunar infrastructure to function as a fixed-base operator—providing refueling and maintenance services for spacecraft, much like airports do for airplanes.
“We’re not digging for gold; we’re providing the shovels,” he explained. “We’re going to be the port, the gateway to the lunar locations.”
With the energy of a visionary and the strategy of an entrepreneur, Ximenes is turning his dreams into reality—one innovation at a time.
“A functional 3D printer, which may one day be used to construct habitats on the moon, is currently on display at the Boeing Center at Tech Port’s Area 21 SAMSAT Museum. Credit: Kin Man Hui for the San Antonio Report.”
The future of innovation relies on access to STEM education, which ensures young people acquire the skills needed to succeed. The WEX Foundation plays a crucial role in this effort.
On December 4, Melody Herrera and her 8-year-old nephew entered the Boeing Center at Tech Port for an aerospace workshop inside Area 21—an introduction to the WEX Foundation’s space exploration LCATS program.
“With recent school closures, I wanted to make sure my nephew had access to valuable learning opportunities,” Herrera said. She proactively reached out to Area 21 to explore resources that could benefit him.
“I hope this experience broadens his horizons, helping him understand his options while also developing executive function skills and knowledge he might not get in school,” she added.
Of all his initiatives, the WEX Foundation is Ximenes’ most cherished endeavor. He chuckled as he described the excitement on students’ faces when they explore lunar cave sites through the program.
“We’ve had students go on to MIT, and seeing their success is incredibly rewarding,” he said. “Some have even become NASA interns. It’s still a young program, but we’re already witnessing its impact.”
