NASA has released a document detailing the proposed United States Space Academy, and the agency wants to move quickly. The timeline seeks a groundbreaking for a permanent campus no later than next year, with the first class enrolled in temporary facilities in 2028 and a transition to a permanent campus in 2031.

The campus will require at least 300 acres and aims to "prepare a new generation of leaders to explore, build, operate, secure, and defend the space domain." It will initially support 1,200 undergraduates, expanding to up to 4,000 students.

The document, a "Request for Information," kicks off bidding among US states. States like Texas, Florida, and Alabama are expected to compete. All 50 states are invited to submit a single response specifying land, infrastructure, funding, and more, with a rough cost estimate. Submissions are due to NASA by October 26.

The 14-page document sets up a competition akin to a major corporate relocation, with states pitching packages to lure the federal government.