HOUSTON: US President Donald Trump has announced plans to create a new “US Space Academy” to train future civilian and military space professionals.
Trump announced the plan during a visit to NASA’s Johnson Space Center in Houston.
He also signed an executive order to establish the new institution.
Academy to Support Space Force and NASA
Trump said the academy would follow the model of the US Military Academy at West Point.
“It’s called the US Space Academy. That’s a big deal,” Trump said.
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The new school will serve the US Space Force, NASA and the civilian space industry.
Trump said the academy would attract and train talented Americans for careers in space.
He described the planned institution as an important step for the country’s future in space.
US and China Compete in Space
The announcement comes as space becomes more important to national security and technology.
The United States and China are competing for a stronger position in space.
Both countries are also working toward new lunar missions.
The US aims to land astronauts on the Moon before 2030. The effort comes more than five decades after humans first walked on the lunar surface.
Space technology also plays an important role in communications, defense and scientific research.
Trump Praises Space Force
Trump has highlighted the role of the US Space Force in recent US military operations.
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The Space Force became the sixth branch of the US armed forces in 2019.
Trump has also linked the service to US military activities in Venezuela and Iran.
However, he did not provide details about the academy’s future location.
The administration has yet to announce where the institution will operate.
Artemis 2 Crew Receives Space Medal
During his visit, Trump also presented the Congressional Space Medal of Honor to the crew of NASA’s Artemis 2 mission.
The Artemis 2 crew flew around the Moon in April.
The mission marked an important step in NASA’s effort to return humans to the Moon.
It also supports the wider Artemis program, which aims to expand human activity around the Moon.
Trump Promises a New Era in Space
Trump has called for what he describes as a “golden age” of space exploration.
Last week, he pledged to support more rocket launches.
He also spoke about future missions to the Moon and Mars.
The new Space Academy could become part of that wider effort.
For now, however, the administration has not released a full timeline for the academy.
The project reflects Washington’s growing focus on space education, national security and competition with China.
