U.S. Sen. Ashley Moody is advocating for Florida to host the U.S. Space Academy, as she formally introduces the STARS Act, an acronym for Securing The Advancement of Rising Spacefarers Act. This legislative effort aims to bring the Academy to Brevard County, part of Florida's Space Coast.
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Moody has been pushing for the Academy's relocation to Florida following an executive order from former President Donald Trump, who announced plans to establish the facility but did not specify a location.
In a statement, Moody emphasized the importance of training future space leaders in Florida, stating, "I’ve just officially filed the STARS Act to bring the U.S. Space Academy to Florida. Florida is America’s gateway to the final frontier."
The STARS Act highlights Florida's rich history in space exploration, noting that the Space Coast region hosts a significant concentration of commercial space companies, including national security launch providers and satellite manufacturers. The bill outlines the benefits of having the Academy in Florida, stating that the region creates an unmatched ecosystem for industry collaborations and opportunities for Academy cadets.
It argues that training near the Kennedy Space Center would offer cadets essential experiences that are unavailable elsewhere in the U.S., emphasizing the proximity to operational launch and Space Force facilities.
Additionally, the bill points out that Florida’s favorable weather and geographic location near the Atlantic Ocean are ideal for space launch operations.
Last week, Moody, along with other lawmakers and representatives from Space Florida and the Space Coast Economic Development Commission, held a news conference to reinforce Cape Canaveral's long-standing role in aerospace development. Rep. Mike Haridopolos, a Republican from Indian Harbour Beach and Chair of the Space and Aeronautics Subcommittee, is reportedly pursuing similar legislative goals in the House.