President Donald Trump signed an executive order on Friday, August 28, to establish the nation's first U.S. Space Academy at NASA's Johnson Space Center in Houston — the latest in a series of moves aimed at maintaining American dominance in space.
The order highlights space as a critical domain for national security, economic growth, scientific discovery, and technological innovation. The proposed academy would combine technical education with leadership development, discipline, and a commitment to public service.
'Given the rapid growth of the U.S. Space Force and commercial space industry, and the expansion of our ambitions to the Moon and far beyond the Moon, it's clear we will need to educate and train an entire generation of skilled service members, engineers, and civil operators,' Trump said at the signing ceremony.
The order calls on NASA Administrator Jared Isaacman to chair a new Presidential Commission on the U.S. Space Academy, with NASA Deputy Administrator Matt Anderson serving as executive director. The commission has 120 days to submit a report with recommendations on governance framework, service obligations for graduates, physical location, and legislative requirements.
'President Trump's vision for a new academy is a transformational step to educate the engineers, scientists, technicians, operators and even the astronauts who will be necessary for the inspiring future we are pursuing in space,' Isaacman said. 'In the years ahead, we will return NASA astronauts to the lunar surface, build the Moon Base, get underway on nuclear power, ignite the orbital economy and launch more missions of science and discovery.'
The signing took place at Johnson Space Center, where Trump also presented the Artemis II crew with the Congressional Space Medal of Honor. The executive order is the latest in a series of space-focused actions from the Trump administration, following the Ensuring American Space Superiority order signed in December 2025 and a National Space Transportation Policy memorandum on August 20.
The commission's report will determine whether the academy becomes a standalone institution or is integrated into existing NASA and military education infrastructure.
