Establishing the United States Space Academy

What it does

• •Establishes a Presidential Commission on the United States Space Academy, chaired by the NASA Administrator with Vice Chairs from the White House Office of Science and Technology and Economic Policy.
• •Directs the Commission to submit a 120-day report to the President with recommendations on governance structure, academic curriculum, service obligations for graduates, applicant prerequisites, physical location, legislative actions needed, and implementation timelines for a NASA-led Space Academy.
• •Authorizes the Commission to establish working groups with representatives from agencies and external experts to support development of Space Academy proposals.
• •Tasks the NASA Administrator with implementing the Commission's approved recommendations in coordination with relevant agencies, subject to applicable law and available appropriations.

Why it matters

• •The order identifies space as critical to national security, economic growth, and technological innovation, and proposes a formal academy modeled on existing service academies to develop the next generation of space professionals.
• •The Commission must evaluate whether to establish the Space Academy within NASA and consider what legislative actions would be necessary, indicating potential for significant organizational and statutory changes.
• •The 120-day deadline and emphasis on implementation strategy suggest the Administration views this as a near-term priority for strengthening the U.S. space workforce.

Who is affected

• •The National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA), which will lead the Commission and potentially host the Space Academy.
• •Federal agencies involved in space, national security, defense, and workforce development, as well as prospective students who would attend the Space Academy.
• •The President and executive branch officials responsible for budgeting and legislative coordination.

What happens next

The Commission must submit its report with recommendations within 120 days of the August 28, 2026 order date; following Presidential approval and any necessary legislative action, the NASA Administrator will implement the approved recommendations.