Miami
Ashley Moody files Senate bill to bring the Space Academy to Florida
The Senator is pushing for the planned academy announced by Donald Trump to be based in Brevard County on Florida’s Space Coast. Florida Politics reported that the measure is named the STARS Act.
U.S. Sen. Ashley Moody has filed legislation in the Senate to place the future Space Academy in Brevard County, on Florida’s Space Coast, according to Florida Politics.
The outlet reported that Moody has been promoting Florida’s bid since President Donald Trump signed an executive order stating his intention to establish the institution, without choosing a location.
The bill is called the STARS Act, short for Securing The Advancement of Rising Spacefarers Act. As described by Florida Politics, the measure argues that Florida’s long history in space exploration makes it the strongest candidate and says the Space Coast hosts the largest concentration of commercial space companies in the United States, including national security launch providers, satellite manufacturers and in-space logistics firms.
The proposal also argues that proximity to the Kennedy Space Center and to launch, range and Space Force facilities would give cadets direct operational exposure unavailable elsewhere in the country, according to the bill language cited by Florida Politics. It also points to Florida’s weather and Atlantic coastline as advantages for launch activity.
Last week, Moody held a news conference with other lawmakers to promote Cape Canaveral as the site, saying the area has been central to aerospace development for more than half a century. Florida Politics said officials from Space Florida and the Space Coast Economic Development Commission also took part.
The outlet added that Republican Rep. Mike Haridopolos of Indian Harbour Beach, who chairs the Space and Aeronautics Subcommittee, has been making a parallel public push and is expected to introduce similar legislation in the House.
Sources
About this piece. Written by El Notero with AI assistance, from reporting published by the outlet cited above. El Notero did no original reporting on this story.
