President Donald Trump signed an executive order on Friday to establish a U.S. space academy dedicated to military applications, aligning with the mission of the U.S. Space Force, NASA and the civilian spaceflight industry. The signing occurred during a visit to the Johnson Space Center in Houston, though the academy’s final location has not yet been determined.
Senator Ted Cruz of Texas has publicly advocated for locating the facility in his state. The proposed academy would function similarly to existing military institutions such as West Point and the U.S. Naval Academy at Annapolis, Trump said, emphasizing its role in training personnel for national security and space exploration needs.
During the announcement, Trump also honored the Artemis II crew, which completed a lunar flyby mission earlier this year. The president additionally referenced a planned 2028 mission to Mars, which aims to deploy a nuclear-powered interplanetary spacecraft. Trump arrived in Houston on Thursday ahead of a Republican fundraiser as the party prepares for the November midterm elections.
