Trump signs order to establish US Space Academy for training future space workforce

President Trump signed an executive order to create a commission for a new national space academy, to be overseen by NASA. The academy aims to provide free tuition in exchange for several years of service, with graduates eligible for Space Force or civilian space roles. The initiative is part of NASA Administrator Jared Isaacman's plan to modernize the agency.

The executive order was signed during a ceremony at Johnson Space Center where Trump presented the Congressional Space Medal of Honor to the four Artemis II astronauts. The academy would operate under NASA rather than the Defense Department, distinguishing it from traditional military service academies like the Air Force Academy.

The initiative stems from Administrator Jared Isaacman's Project Athena plan to restructure the agency around commercial partnerships. Modeled loosely on the Merchant Marine Academy, the institution would offer four-year degrees covering spaceflight operations, vehicle design, and orbital debris management. Graduates would owe several years of service, with most slots going to NASA and civilian positions rather than the Space Force.