WEST VIRGINIA (WCHS) — West Virginia is applying to be the home of the United States Space Academy, state officials announced Wednesday.
NASA is looking to break ground on a permanent campus by 2027 to prepare for an inaugural class of about 300 students the following year, according to a news release from Gov. Patrick Morrisey’s Office.
The release said the academy would require at least 300 acres of land and would potentially expand to accommodate 4,000 students.
Morrisey noted grant resource centers at Marshall University and West Virginia University are assisting with the state’s submission.
The U.S. Space Academy was launched earlier this year through an executive order issued by President Donald Trump.
“This will be a tough competition, but West Virginia has a strong case to make,” Morrisey stated in the news release. “We are going to fight for every opportunity that can bring good-paying jobs to our state, grow our economy and help make West Virginia more affordable for our families.”
The deadline for the application is set for Oct. 26.