Louisiana submitted a formal proposal this week to host the United States Space Academy on the LSU New Orleans lakefront campus, aiming to train the next generation of American space leaders.
The state’s bid, led by Louisiana Economic Development (LED), outlines a plan to welcome an inaugural class of 300 cadets by fall 2028. The program is expected to scale to 1,200 cadets by 2031, with a long-term goal of housing 4,000 or more students.
President Donald J. Trump established the Presidential Commission on the United States Space Academy in August 2026, prompting NASA to request site proposals from state governors. Louisiana’s plan uses the existing 2.83 million square feet of academic and research facilities at the LSU New Orleans campus. The site currently includes 1,676 residence hall beds and 37 laboratories, which the state says can be adapted to accommodate the Academy’s specific needs.
“Louisiana has helped America reach the stars for generations, and we are ready to help lead the next era of American spaceflight,” said Governor Jeff Landry.
The proposal includes a "campus within a campus" model, where the Academy would maintain its own precinct, residence halls, and formation grounds while allowing the university to continue its traditional civilian curriculum.
Proponents of the Louisiana bid emphasize the region’s proximity to existing aerospace infrastructure. The campus is located approximately nine miles from NASA’s Michoud Assembly Facility, which has supported manned spaceflight programs since the Apollo era.
“New Orleans is uniquely qualified to host the U.S. Space Academy and build on its 60-year track record of delivering wins for the U.S. space program,” said Congressman Troy A. Carter, Sr.
The state has secured commitments from regional partners, including Southern University at New Orleans and Tulane University, to provide additional faculty, laboratories, and specialized programs.
The City of New Orleans has pledged to coordinate infrastructure improvements, including road and drainage upgrades, to support the site. This work complements a $100 million grid-hardening program already underway, which is designed to replace utility poles with structures capable of withstanding 140 mph winds.
LSU and state officials intend to have the campus ready for the Academy by the third quarter of 2027. Cadets enrolling in 2028 would be the first to utilize the facility, with ongoing renovations and new construction planned to continue through 2031.
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