Tennessee throws its hat in the ring for the U.S. Space Academy
Gov. Bill Lee has announced the state is pursuing hosting the United States Space Academy, a new national campus established to strengthen America’s next generation space workforce.
On Oct. 28, Gov. Bill Lee made the announcement.
“Someone has to determine what the future looks like, and I’ve long believed that should be Tennessee,” he said. “From leading the nation in clean, reliable nuclear energy to developing the workforce needed to win the future, the Volunteer State is already leading the next era of American innovation…We look forward to building on our momentum to create new job opportunities for Tennesseans and strengthen America’s leadership in space for generations to come.”
Here’s what we know so far.
Where would the campus be?
The state’s proposal sees the Academy within the Middle Tennessee I-24 Industrial Site in Coffee County, central within the Tennessee Valley Aerospace Corridor. The site offers:
- Existing infrastructure with room to grow.
- A location minutes from Arnold Air Force Base.
- Close proximity to Huntsville, Alabama as one of the country’s leading aerospace hubs.
What makes Tennessee a strong contender?
Education assets
- The University of Tennessee Space Institute.
- UT System’s long track record in nuclear science and engineering.
- Middle Tennessee State University’s aerospace programs.
- Tennessee Tech University’s technical strengths.
- Vanderbilt University’s space and quantum research.
A growing aerospace and defense sector
The state already has a strong focus in this realm. In fact, since 2019, the sector has grown 44% according to Area Development. This equates to:
- Over 20,300 graduates in related fields.
- $617 million in investment.
- 3,200 new job commitments.
Today, that looks like more than 12,300 Tennesseans working in the industry across 164 companies statewide. And one of these companies just reached orbit.
Earlier this month, Nashville-based Blackwing Space launched Baby Bird, the first commercial satellite built in Tennessee, aboard SpaceX’s Transporter-18 rideshare mission from Vandenberg Space Force Base.
Its founders, team, lead investor and launch integrator are all based in Tennessee. Bringing the academy to Tennessee would give them, and other startups, another homegrown advantage.
“At Blackwing Space, we’re building affordable, American-made nanosatellite platforms right here in Middle Tennessee. We’ve also been working to grow the Southern Space Corridor, connecting space talent, companies, and resources across Tennessee and the broader American southeast. Bringing the U.S. Space Academy to Tennessee would build on that foundation…and accelerate the state’s emergence as a strategic hub for affordable, scalable aerospace manufacturing,” the company reflected on LinkedIn to celebrate the bid.
Watch Baby Bird’s launch below.
What happens next?
The National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) is leading the process to evaluate potential locations. Multiple l leaders including Deputy Gov. and TNECD Commissioner Stuart C. McWhorter, Sen. Marsha Blackburn, Sen. Bill Hagerty, Rep. Matt Van Epps and Rep. Scott DesJarlais are teaming up to see the bid through.
While it’s unclear when a decision will come, the announcement marks another exciting milestone for Tennessee’s innovation momentum.
“The next generation of American innovation will be driven by states with the talent, infrastructure and vision to turn opportunity into reality, and Tennessee is ready to compete,” said McWhorter. “Pursuing the U.S. Space Academy is about more than attracting a historic investment. It’s about strengthening our innovation economy, creating new opportunities for Tennesseans and helping shape the future of American space exploration for generations to come.”
Read the full release here.
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