New Orleans is a top contender to house a United States Space Academy. The move is part of a broader federal effort to strengthen national security and develop the next generation of American space leaders.
The Presidential Commission on the United States Academy held its first meeting on Sept. 9, with a request for information deadline set for Oct. 26. This means states have just weeks to make their case before the commission makes a decision on location and plans for building move forward.
The academy would be a civilian federal academic institution modeled after existing military academies led by NASA. Students admitted will receive free tuition in exchange for a post-graduation military service commitment…