Colorado Springs enters race to host U.S. Space Academy
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Colorado Springs is making a play for the proposed U.S. Space Academy — even as the city loses U.S. Space Command to Alabama.
Why it matters: Landing the NASA-led school could give the Springs' aerospace industry a major boost, bringing new opportunities for universities, businesses and the region's workforce.
Driving the news: Gov. Jared Polis and other state leaders announced Friday that Colorado Springs as their pick to host the academy.
- The pitch comes with plenty of unanswered questions, including where the campus would go, how much it would cost and who would foot the bill.
The big picture: President Trump signed an executive order Aug. 28 creating a commission to develop the academy, which would train scientists, engineers, astronauts and other space professionals
- The ambitious timeline calls for groundbreaking by 2027, welcoming roughly 300 students in temporary facilities in 2028 and opening a permanent campus by 2031.
Yes, but: Colorado Springs faces competition from a familiar rival. Huntsville, Alabama, launched its bid Oct. 1.
- That's the same city receiving Space Command from the Springs.
The intrigue: Not everyone in Colorado is sold on the idea.
- U.S. Sen. John Hickenlooper called it "duplicative, costly, and unserious" in August, arguing the Air Force Academy already trains future Space Force leaders.
The other side: Polis is pitching Colorado's aerospace muscle — including more than 55,000 industry jobs as a selling point.
- "Colorado has the talent, innovation, and aerospace expertise to train the next generation of American space leaders, and we are a mile closer to space," he said Friday.