U.S. Sen. Ashley Moody, R-Fla., filed legislation Tuesday that would locate the newly created U.S. Space Academy in Florida, continuing a push by state leaders to bring the institution to the Space Coast.
Moody introduced the STARS Act after President Donald Trump signed an executive order in late August establishing the academy. The planned institution is intended to educate and train students interested in serving in the U.S. Space Force while also developing talent for NASA and the commercial space industry.
“I’ve just officially filed the STARS Act to bring the U.S. Space Academy to Florida,” Moody said. “Florida is America’s gateway to the final frontier – that’s why it’s so important that the next generation of space leaders are trained in the Sunshine State.”
Moody had announced earlier this month that she planned to introduce legislation seeking to establish the academy in Florida once the Senate returned to Washington. She has also joined members of Florida’s congressional delegation in urging the Trump administration and NASA Administrator Jared Isaacman to select the state as the academy’s location.
Florida officials are also responding to a federal request for information seeking input on the establishment of the academy. Supporters of the Florida proposal have highlighted the presence of Kennedy Space Center, Cape Canaveral Space Force Station, major commercial launch companies and universities involved in aerospace research.
Moody appeared with Space Florida CEO Rob Long and other aerospace industry representatives on the Space Coast on Sept. 8 to promote Florida’s bid. Participants argued that Florida’s combination of launch facilities, aerospace companies, universities and existing NASA and Space Force operations makes the state a natural candidate for the academy.
The STARS Act is the latest in a series of space-related proposals backed by Moody. She previously introduced legislation aimed at allowing tax-exempt bonds for spaceport facilities and proposed the Space Ready 2.0 Act, which would allow NASA to accept voluntary private-sector contributions for certain infrastructure projects.
Moody has also introduced the CAPE Canaveral Act, legislation seeking to relocate NASA headquarters to Florida’s Space Coast. Her broader effort comes as launch activity at Cape Canaveral and Kennedy Space Center has expanded substantially over the past decade, driven in part by the growth of commercial spaceflight.
The location of the U.S. Space Academy has not yet been finalized. The executive order establishing the academy calls for federal officials to develop recommendations regarding its location and organization, leaving Florida to compete for the institution as the administration moves forward with the project.
