President Donald Trump signed an executive order on Friday, Aug. 28, 2026, to establish the nation's first U.S. Space Academy, NASA announced that day. NASA said the proposed academy would combine technical education with leadership development, discipline and a commitment to public service, aimed at strengthening the space workforce. The signing took place at NASA's Johnson Space Center in Houston, where Trump also presented the Congressional Space Medal of Honor to the Artemis II crew.

According to the release, the order calls on NASA Administrator Jared Isaacman to chair a new Presidential Commission on the United States Space Academy, with NASA Deputy Administrator Matt Anderson as executive director. Michael Kratsios, Assistant to the President for Science and Technology, and Kevin Hassett, Assistant to the President for Economic Policy, were named vice chairs. NASA said a commission report to the President is due within 120 days of signing, with recommendations on the governance framework, graduates' service obligations, the academy's physical location and legislative requirements.

Isaacman described the plan as a step toward educating the engineers, scientists, technicians, operators and astronauts he said future space efforts would require. NASA noted that Trump signed a space superiority order in December 2025 and a National Space Transportation Policy memorandum on Aug. 20, 2026.