Why did the Colt 45s ball team change name to Houston Astros?

The Colt .45s Baseball team changed its name to the Houston Astros in 1965 to reflect the city’s growing connection to the space industry, notably the nearby NASA Johnson Space Center. The new name was intended to symbolize a modern, forward-looking image and to embrace Houston's identity as the "Space City." The rebranding coincided with the team's move to the Astrodome, the world's first domed sports stadium, which further reinforced the space theme.