WASHINGTON (WDNews) — Alabama lawmakers are pushing for North Alabama to become the home of the proposed United States Space Academy, pointing to Huntsville’s long history with the nation’s space and defense programs.
U.S. Sen. Tommy Tuberville joined U.S. Rep. Dale Strong and other members of Alabama’s congressional delegation in sending a letter to the Presidential Commission on the United States Space Academy supporting North Alabama as a potential location.
President Donald Trump signed an executive order Aug. 28 creating the commission and beginning the process of establishing the academy. The proposed NASA-led federal academy would provide technical education, leadership development and public-service training for future astronauts, scientists, engineers, operators, entrepreneurs, civil servants and military personnel.
The commission is chaired by NASA Administrator Jared Isaacman and has 120 days from the executive order to develop recommendations. Those recommendations are expected to address the academy’s governance, curriculum, service requirements, admissions requirements and the process for selecting a permanent location.
“There is no better place for President Trump’s U.S. Space Academy than the great state of Alabama,” Tuberville said. “Nicknamed ‘The Rocket City,’ Huntsville is already home to U.S. Space Command, NASA, and the Missile Defense Agency, not to mention the hundreds of private companies who support America’s space and defense industries. We have the resources, infrastructure, and personnel to support this mission and I’m confident that anyone attending the Academy would be proud to call Alabama home.”
In their letter, Alabama lawmakers argued that a location should bring together NASA operations, a strong federal and military presence, research facilities and an established technology industry.
They pointed to NASA’s Marshall Space Flight Center, Redstone Arsenal, the Missile Defense Agency and U.S. Army Space and Missile Defense Command as examples of existing resources in North Alabama.
“North Alabama brings together the civil, commercial, and national security capabilities necessary to support the next generation of space leaders,” the delegation wrote.
Lawmakers also highlighted Alabama’s colleges and universities and the Tennessee Valley’s aerospace and defense workforce. According to the delegation, more than 400 aerospace, defense and technology companies operate throughout the Tennessee Valley, supporting a workforce of more than 40,000 STEM professionals, including nearly 4,000 aerospace engineers.
“With these considerations in mind, North Alabama stands uniquely prepared to support the Academy’s mission and build upon NASA’s efforts to recruit, train, and retain the next generation of highly educated and technically specialized aerospace talent,” the delegation wrote.
The lawmakers also pointed to Huntsville’s role in the development of the Saturn V rocket and its continuing involvement in NASA programs through Marshall Space Flight Center.
“The Alabama Congressional Delegation stands united in support of the President’s vision to establish the United States Space Academy, and we believe there would be no more qualified place than North Alabama to undertake this critical mission,” the letter stated.
NASA said Sept. 10 that states are being asked to submit proposals detailing potential locations, infrastructure, partnerships and surrounding support systems. The commission’s current timeline calls for a groundbreaking no later than 2027, temporarily hosting the first 300 students in 2028 and having a permanent location operating by 2031.
No permanent location for the U.S. Space Academy has been selected.
