WASHINGTON — Alabama’s entire congressional delegation is united in calling for the newly created U.S. Space Academy to be located in the northern part of the state.
President Donald Trump created the U.S. Space Academy through an executive order last month. The new federal academy would provide technical education and leadership development to students preparing to enter careers in the space industry such as astronauts and engineers.
In a letter Monday to NASA Administrator Jared Isaacman and the Presidential Commission on the United States Space Academy, the state’s nine-member delegation urged the group to consider Alabama as the future home of the academy.
“North Alabama brings together the civil, commercial, and national security capabilities necessary to support the next generation of space leaders,” Alabama lawmakers wrote.
U.S. Rep. Dale Strong, R-Huntsville, led the delegation’s letter in which the group highlighted that Huntsville already boasts NASA’s Marshall Space Flight Center, the Missile Defense Agency and is becoming the new headquarters of the U.S. Space Command.
“With these considerations in mind, North Alabama stands uniquely prepared to support the Academy’s mission and build upon NASA’s efforts to recruit, train, and retain the next generation of highly educated and technically specialized aerospace talent,” the delegation wrote.
Alabama’s entire congressional delegation is pushing to have North Alabama host NASA’s new Space Academy. Letter led by Huntsville Republican @RepDaleStrong. #ALPolitics pic.twitter.com/7fmep43oxB
— Alex Angle (@alexangle_) September 14, 2026
NASA hopes to move fast on developing the academy from the ground up. The commission overseeing the creation of the Space Academy has asked states for input to help decide the path forward and to provide potential locations to host the new academy. States must submit their information by Oct. 26.
Once a site is selected, a groundbreaking could happen no later than 2027, with the first students slated to start in 2028, according to NASA. The space agency aims to have a permanent location operational for the academy by 2031.
“North Alabama is the natural home for the United States Space Academy,” Strong said in a statement. “We have the people, expertise, institutions, infrastructure, and capabilities to lead a world-class Academy that prepares the next generation to advance American leadership in space.”
U.S. Sen. Tommy Tuberville, R-Ala, said “there is no better place” for the Space Academy than in Alabama, with federal agencies already located in Huntsville alongside private companies supporting the industry.
“I’m confident that anyone attending the Academy would be proud to call Alabama home,” Tuberville, who is also running for governor, said.
During the commission’s first meeting last week, members discussed the proposed structure and priorities of the academy, including its curriculum and service commitments.
U.S. Sen. Katie Britt, R-Ala., said locating the Space Academy in North Alabama “would be a natural fit and exceptional asset to our entire nation” to go along with the state’s history of “supporting America’s most complex space missions.
“Alabama deserves every and all consideration,” Britt said.
U.S. Rep. Mike Rogers, the main architect behind the U.S. Space Force, said the Space Academy is the “next step” for ensuring U.S. space dominance.
“Especially given the recent establishment of Space Command Headquarters at Redstone Arsenal, I can think of no better place in the country to establish the United States Space Academy,” the House Armed Services chair said.
The delegation’s letter mentions that North Alabama already boasts more than 40,000 STEM professionals, including 4,000 aerospace engineers, which could provide expertise to the academy.