US astronaut, USAF colonel, Apollo 8 commander
President Trump has signed an executive order to begin creating a U.S. Space Academy to train astronauts, engineers and civil operators for NASA, the U.S. Space Force and the civilian spaceflight industry. A presidential commission chaired by NASA administrator Jared Isaacman will deliver proposals within 120 days; the academy’s location and funding remain undecided.
The Artemis II crew has received the Congressional Space Medal of Honor for their record-breaking lunar trajectory. President Trump has announced plans for a US Space Academy and aims to position Artemis III/IV milestones toward a sustained lunar presence. NASA officials and astronauts are highlighting progress toward a future lunar base and Mars ambitions.
SpaceX has launched a four‑person Crew‑13 to the International Space Station and the team has reached orbit after an eight‑hour express transit, a US speed record. Commander Jessica Watkins has become the first Black woman to lead a crew to orbit. The flight includes Canadian astronaut Joshua Kutryk, whose wife is due to give birth during the six‑month mission.