Tennessee pushing to become home of proposed U.S. Space Academy. Here’s what you need to know

What This Story Is About Tennessee is pursuing a proposed United States Space Academy, with state leaders pitching the Coffee County Joint Industrial Park as a potential site. Why It Matters If selected, the academy could bring a major federal investment and new aerospace, engineering, research and workforce-training opportunities to Middle Tennessee. What Happens Next NASA will evaluate potential sites.

State officials did not announce a timeline for the selection process or identify competing locations. For Context NASA is leading the process to evaluate possible locations. Tennessee is proposing a site in the Tennessee Valley Aerospace Corridor, near Arnold Air Force Base and within driving distance of Huntsville’s major aerospace and defense sector.

MANCHESTER, Tenn. (WSMV) - Gov. Bill Lee says Tennessee will seek to become the home of a proposed United States Space Academy, a campus intended to train future astronauts, engineers, scientists, technicians and space-industry operators. The state’s proposal centers on the Coffee County Joint Industrial Park in the Tennessee Valley Aerospace Corridor.

Someone will determine what the future looks like — that should be Tennessee.

Summary of the outlet's own feed. From WVLT (Knoxville), October 28, 2026.