NASA Opens Competition to Host Proposed Space Academy
NASA has opened a state-by-state competition for proposals to host a proposed United States Space Academy, giving governors or their designees until October 26 to identify potential locations and supporting partnerships.
The request for information, published September 10 after the academy commission’s first meeting on September 9, asks states to describe possible sites, infrastructure, environmental and regulatory conditions, nearby academic and aerospace networks, and other resources that could support the institution.
Each state may submit only one response through its governor’s designee. Responses are due by 6 p.m. EDT on October 26, 2026.
What NASA is asking states to provide
NASA is not selecting a city or campus yet. It is gathering information that the Presidential Commission on the United States Space Academy will use as it develops recommendations about the academy’s permanent location and broader design.
State proposals can address site readiness, transportation and other infrastructure, environmental and regulatory considerations, and the strength of surrounding academic, government and aerospace ecosystems. The request also seeks information about resources that states and local partners could make available.
The one-submission rule means governors will have to coordinate with universities, state agencies, potential host communities and aerospace employers before sending a proposal.
A proposed federal academy, not an operating school
The academy remains a proposal rather than an established, accredited or funded institution. President Donald Trump’s August 28 executive order created a commission chaired by the NASA administrator and directed it to recommend how the academy could be organized.
Under the order, the proposed NASA-led federal academy would combine technical education with leadership development, discipline and public service. The commission must consider governance, accreditation, curriculum, applicant requirements, possible service obligations and relationships with federal agencies and existing education programs.
The order says NASA may implement approved recommendations only after presidential approval and any necessary legislative action, consistent with applicable law and available appropriations. The executive order therefore does not by itself create a fully operating academy or guarantee construction funding.
Timeline remains ambitious
NASA’s request describes a planning target of breaking ground no later than 2027, temporarily hosting the first 300 students in 2028 and operating a permanent campus by 2031. Those are proposed goals in the request, not guaranteed construction or opening dates.
The commission has 120 days from the August 28 executive order to submit recommendations to the president. Its work is expected to address the academy’s governance, curriculum, admissions requirements, service commitments, location and implementation strategy.
What happens next
The immediate deadline is October 26, when state submissions are due. After that, the commission will weigh the information as it develops its recommendations. No state, city or university has been selected, and the academy is not accepting students.
The next major decisions will depend on the commission’s report, presidential action and whether Congress must authorize or fund parts of the plan. For now, the NASA request marks the start of a national contest over where a proposed federal space academy could be located and whether the administration’s schedule can move forward.
Sources
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