West Virginia’s Bid for the U.S. Space Academy
Fairmont, WV – Governor Patrick Morrisey announced on Wednesday that West Virginia is aiming to become the home of the U.S. Space Academy, an initiative launched by former President Donald Trump in August to advance space exploration.
Key Highlights:
- Location and Context: The announcement was made at the I-79 Technology Park in South Fairmont, which already hosts contractors involved in NASA’s Artemis missions, aimed at eventual manned flights to Mars.
- Training Program: The Space Academy would train officer candidates for the newly formed federal Space Force, as well as existing NASA astronauts and participants in the growing civilian space flight sector.
- State Advantages: Governor Morrisey emphasized West Virginia’s unique strengths, contrasting with neighboring Ohio’s Wright-Patterson Air Force Base. He highlighted the state’s notable figures in space history, including Katherine Johnson and Homer Hickam.
- Katherine Johnson: A pivotal NASA mathematician from Greenbrier County, she calculated launch trajectories for key missions, including Apollo 11.
- Homer Hickam: A NASA engineer from McDowell County, he specialized in rocket efficiencies and trained astronauts.
Call for Ideas:
With a deadline for applications on October 26, Governor Morrisey invites public input on the endeavor through the website wvspaceacademy.com.
This initiative aims to position West Virginia as a significant player in the future of U.S. space endeavors.
