President Donald Trump signed an executive order on Friday to establish a U.S. space academy dedicated to military applications, formalizing a new institution alongside existing service academies.
The signing occurred during Trump’s visit to the Johnson Space Center in Houston, where he was joined by NASA Administrator Jared Isaacman. The order directs the academy to support operations for the United States Space Force, NASA and the civilian spaceflight industry, though the specific site for the facility has not yet been selected.
Trump’s visit to Houston included a Republican fundraiser ahead of the November midterm elections. Texas Senator Ted Cruz, who has previously advocated for locating the academy in Texas, was present during the event.
During the visit, Trump honored the Artemis II crew, whose circumlunar mission took place earlier in the year. He also referenced plans for a 2028 Mars mission involving a nuclear-powered interplanetary spacecraft, highlighting the academy’s role in advancing U.S. space capabilities.
The executive order builds on Trump’s 2019 establishment of the Space Force as a separate military branch, signaling a continued emphasis on expanding the U.S. presence in space operations.
