Here's what we know about the "space academy" Trump just announced

Key Points:

• President Trump signed an executive order to establish the US Space Academy, a new national space academy under NASA's jurisdiction, aimed at educating and training future space professionals including service members, engineers, and civil operators.
• The academy, part of NASA Administrator Jared Isaacman's Project Athena, will offer free tuition with a service commitment post-graduation, primarily placing graduates in NASA and civilian roles, with some opportunities in the US Space Force.
• The curriculum is expected to cover human and non-human spaceflight operations, space vehicle design, orbital debris mitigation, and related fields to prepare technical leaders for both commercial and government space exploration efforts.
• The academy model may resemble the US Merchant Marine Academy, offering a four-year degree and taught by leaders from civil and commercial space sectors; its location is yet to be decided, possibly near existing NASA facilities.
• Some experts, including former NASA deputy administrator Lori Garver, caution that a military-style academy could blur the lines between NASA's peaceful civil mission and military activities of the US Space Force, raising concerns about the academy's structure and purpose.