Trump signs executive order to create a U.S. Space Academy

President Donald Trump signed an executive order on Friday to initiate the establishment of a U.S. Space Academy, aimed at training personnel for the U.S. Space Force, NASA, and the civilian spaceflight industry. At a ceremony at NASA's Johnson Space Center in Houston, Trump unveiled the new academy in front of a crowd of astronauts, engineers, and NASA managers, who had recently honored four crew members of the Artemis II mission, which orbited the moon earlier this year.

The president likened the new academy to prestigious military institutions such as West Point, Annapolis, and the Air Force Academy, emphasizing the importance of having a dedicated institution for space professionals. He pledged to choose a location for the academy soon, with Texas Senator Ted Cruz advocating for his home state.

The creation of the U.S. Space Academy aims to attract, train, and graduate the best talent in the nation, following the recent successes of the U.S. space program under Trump's administration.