West Virginia seeks sites for United States Space Academy bid

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West Virginia is preparing a bid to host the United States Space Academy, and communities are being asked to suggest sites and other resources before an October 26 submission deadline.

Governor Patrick Morrisey outlined the effort in an October 7 release from his communications office. NASA wants a location ready for an initial class of 300 students in 2028, the release says.

“We know that it’s not easy to compete on space issues with states such as Florida or Texas, but West Virginia has our own unique space story to tell,” Morrisey said in the release.

NASA is looking for at least 300 acres and a site where construction of a permanent campus can begin by 2027. The campus would need room for 1,200 students by 2031, with potential to expand to about 4,000, according to the release.

Nearly all of West Virginia’s higher education institutions have joined the bid effort to support coursework during campus construction and accreditation, the release says. Joint grant resource centers at Marshall University and West Virginia University are helping prepare the submission.

Fred Eberle Technical Center

NASA’s Office of Strategic Infrastructure requested possible host locations after President Donald J. Trump created the academy through Executive Order 14423 on August 28, according to the release.

Communities can learn more at wvspaceacademy.com. A video of Morrisey’s remarks is also available.

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