Once-in-a-Generation Opportunity for West Virginia

Together, We Can Help West Virginia Soar

West Virginia has an opportunity to help shape the future of space education, research and innovation. We want to hear from people across our state who have ideas about how West Virginia can make this vision a reality.

Do you have an idea, location, resource or partnership to share? We want to hear from you.

The proposed United States Space Academy could bring new opportunities for education, research, workforce development and innovation to West Virginia. The state is exploring how its communities, colleges and universities, businesses and other partners could help make West Virginia a strong home for the Academy.

2028

Potential launch of an initial Academy class of 300.

1,200 – 4,000

Potential long-term student enrollment

Education + Research + Industry

An opportunity to connect West Virginia’s strengths with the future of space.

Why West Virginia?

We’ve Been Reaching for the Stars for Generations.

West Virginia’s connection to space and aviation is more than a point on a map. It is part of our story.

From a coal town in McDowell County, Homer Hickam looked to the sky, built rockets with his friends and went on to become a NASA aerospace engineer.

In White Sulphur Springs, Katherine Johnson developed a love of mathematics that carried her from West Virginia State College to NASA, where her calculations helped chart the paths of some of America’s earliest space missions.

And from Myra, Chuck Yeager became a legendary test pilot and the first person to break the sound barrier.

Their stories remind us that extraordinary things can begin in ordinary places.

Today, West Virginia has an opportunity to build on that legacy — with talented people, strong educational institutions, innovative businesses and communities ready to imagine what comes next.

The next chapter could start here.

What Could West Virginia Bring to the Table?

BUILD — The Spirit to Build
Homer Hickam and his friends didn’t wait for someone else to build their future. They built rockets in Coalwood. Today, West Virginia has the communities, infrastructure, institutions and industry to build something much bigger.

KNOW — A Tradition of Discovery
Katherine Johnson showed what can happen when curiosity, education and determination come together. West Virginia’s colleges and universities can help develop the mathematicians, engineers, scientists and researchers who will shape the next generation of space exploration.

SOAR — The Courage to Go Further
Chuck Yeager showed the world that West Virginia’s roots don’t define how far its people can go. The United States Space Academy could create new opportunities for West Virginians to pursue careers, research and innovation at the forefront of aerospace and space.

BUILD. KNOW. SOAR.
It’s in our history. It’s in our people. And it can be our future.

Submit Your Idea

Have an idea for where or how the Space Academy could take root in West Virginia?

Submitting Entity Information(Required)

What entity are you submitting on behalf of? (e.g., county government, city/municipality, regional EDA, private landowner, university, other — please specify)

College or University

County Government

City/Municipality

Private Landowner

Regional EDA

Industry Partner

Other

Industry Partners

Is your organization interested in supporting the United States Space Academy in West Virginia?

Yes

Organization/Company Name(Required)

Primary Contact Information(Required)

First Name Last Name

Title/Position(Required)

Email(Required)

Enter Email Confirm Email

Phone

Country Phone Number

Website

Secondary Contact

Is there a secondary contact we should include? (optional)

Yes

Secondary Contact Information

First Name Last Name

Secondary Contact Email

Enter Email Confirm Email

Secondary Contact Phone

Country Phone Number

What could your company bring to the table?(Required)

If the United States Space Academy is located in West Virginia, how could your company contribute to its success? Please describe any relevant expertise, facilities, manufacturing capabilities, materials, equipment, technology, workforce, research and development, internships, training opportunities, financial resources or other assets your company could provide.

How would you be interested in supporting the Academy?

Select all that apply.

Other support

Please provide details

Please provide any additional information about your company's interest in supporting the United States Space Academy.

Screening Questions (Yes/No)

These help us sort submissions quickly. A “no” won’t disqualify your site — it just helps us understand what further information or support might be needed.

Land and Site Control

Does the proposed site consist of (or could reasonably be assembled into) a contiguous parcel of roughly 300+ acres?(Required)

Yes

Does your organization have some relationship to the land (ownership, control, or a working relationship with the landowner/s) that could support a future offer to the state?(Required)

Yes

Site Readiness and Infrastructure

Is the site currently served by, or within reasonable extension distance of, electric, water, and wastewater infrastructure?(Required)

Yes

Is the site accessible via existing roads or highways suitable for major construction and ongoing campus traffic?(Required)

Yes

Environmental and Regulatory Considerations

To your knowledge, is the site free of major known environmental obstacles (e.g., wetlands, floodplain, protected habitat) that would likely require extensive mitigation?(Required)

Yes

Proximity and Supporting Ecosystem

Is the site within a reasonable drive (under an hour) of a commercial or international airport?(Required)

Yes

Is the site located near existing higher-ed institutions, research centers, or aerospace/tech industry employers?(Required)

Yes

Open-Ended Narrative

Tell us about your site. There’s no required format — share what makes this location compelling.

Topics you may want to address include:

Site description: Location, acreage, current ownership, and any existing buildings or infrastructure.
Why this site: What makes it a strong fit for a national academic institution of this scale and mission?
Infrastructure and readiness: Utilities, transportation access, and any planned improvements.
Environmental and regulatory factors: Known constraints, and your sense of timeline/permitting feasibility.
Community and ecosystem: Nearby universities, research institutions, industry partners, airports, housing, and amenities relevant to students, faculty, and staff.
Potential local or regional support: Any land, infrastructure, financial, or in-kind commitments your community might be able to offer (this helps us gauge feasibility — no commitment implied at this stage).
Anything else you think we should know.

Tell us about your site:

Supporting Materials (Optional)

Maps, site plans, renderings, or photos
Documentation of ownership or control (if available)
Any letters of support

Upload documents

PDF (.pdf) preferred Microsoft Word (.doc, .docx) Microsoft Excel (.xls, .xlsx)

Drop files here or

Accepted file types: pdf, docx, doc, xlsx, xls, Max. file size: 50 MB.

Explore the Opportunity

Learn more about the proposed United States Space Academy and the federal process behind it.

News: NASA Answers President’s Call to Establish United States Space Academy

From the White House: Establishing the United States Space Academy

RFI: Request for Information – Creation of The United States Space Academy

NASA – USSA – RFI (pdf)