During a visit to Houston, Texas, President Donald Trump signed an executive order aimed at establishing a new national U.S. Space Academy while formally recognizing the astronauts of the Artemis II mission.
The actions, announced on August 28, 2026, underline federal initiative to expand aerospace training and highlight major milestones in American space travel.
Medals of Honor for Artemis II Crew
As part of the Houston stop, Trump awarded the Space Medal of Honor to the crew members of Artemis II. The presentation honored the astronauts preparing for the crucial lunar mission, which serves as NASA’s first crewed test flight around the Moon under the Artemis program.
The Artemis program represents a central element of national space exploration strategy, aiming to establish a sustainable human presence on and around the Moon while laying technical groundwork for future deep-space endeavors.
Establishing the U.S. Space Academy
Alongside the honors ceremony, Trump signed an executive order directing the creation of a NASA-led U.S. Space Academy. The planned institution is designed to develop specialized educational curricula, scientific research, and technical training programs for future generations of space professionals.
Addressing attendees in Houston, Trump highlighted the accelerating momentum behind domestic space initiatives, stressing the economic and technological significance of maintaining leadership in orbit and beyond.
