WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Texas), Chairman of the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation, led the Texas congressional delegation in a letter to the Presidential Commission on the United States Space Academy endorsing Texas’s proposal to host the U.S. Space Academy.
Highlights from the Letter:
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Texas as a Hub for Space: The letter argues that Texas possesses the essential elements to establish a premier space academy, including the people, infrastructure, and resources necessary to support America’s leadership in space.
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Historical Leadership: For over sixty years, Texas has been at the forefront of human spaceflight, with NASA’s Johnson Space Center serving as a central location for astronaut training and mission control.
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Building on Established Resources: Locating the academy in Texas would leverage existing investments in human spaceflight rather than duplicating efforts elsewhere, providing students direct access to significant facilities and expertise from day one.
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Comprehensive Space Development: Unlike other states that may focus on specific aspects of the space industry, Texas is involved in every facet—from development and testing to launching and operating space systems—making it an ideal location for the academy.
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Hands-On Training Opportunities: The letter emphasizes the benefit of training in the same environment where astronauts prepare, providing students experiential learning and engagement with current missions and technologies.
The letter is co-signed by a wide range of Texas representatives, showcasing broad bipartisan support for the initiative.
For the full letter, click here.