West Virginia Aims to Host U.S. Space Academy
Fairmont, WV – Governor Patrick Morrisey has announced plans for West Virginia to become the home of the U.S. Space Academy, an initiative introduced by President Donald Trump to expand the nation’s reach into space.
Morrisey made the announcement at the I-79 Technology Park in South Fairmont, a site already contributing to NASA’s Artemis missions aimed at manned Mars flights. The academy would serve as a training ground for officer candidates in the new federal Space Force, as well as for NASA astronauts and civilians involved in space missions.
Emphasizing the state’s potential, Morrisey highlighted West Virginia’s unique advantages, referencing local figures like Katherine Johnson, a pivotal NASA mathematician from Greenbrier County, and Homer Hickam, a former NASA engineer and author known for his rocket experiments in McDowell County.
The governor stressed the importance of West Virginia’s resources and innovative spirit, positioning it as a competitive alternative to Ohio’s Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, a historical site for U.S. aerospace development.
As the application deadline approaches on October 26, Morrisey invites the public to share their ideas at wvspaceacademy.com.
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