Trump signs executive order to establish US Space Academy
President Trump signed an executive order creating a US Space Academy to train personnel for space operations and exploration.
President Donald Trump has signed an executive order to establish the US Space Academy, a new institution designed to train personnel for the country's expanding space operations. The announcement was made during a visit to NASA's Johnson Space Center in Houston, where the president also honoured the Artemis II crew with the Congressional Space Medal of Honor.
The academy is intended to be modelled on the United States' premier military service academies, such as West Point. It will focus on preparing service members, engineers, and civilian operators to support the growing needs of the US Space Force and the commercial space sector, as well as Washington's ambitions for lunar exploration and missions beyond.
Speaking at the event, Trump underscored the strategic importance of space leadership, stating that a nation cannot be first on Earth while being second in space. He also revealed that NASA has begun work on what he described as the first nuclear-powered interplanetary spacecraft, with a planned launch to Mars in 2028. The president suggested this vessel could be the first of a larger American fleet aimed at making space travel more routine.