NEW ORLEANS — Louisiana state officials took the next step in convincing the federal government to choose New Orleans as the home of the United States Space Academy.

The state formally submitted a proposal to build the academy at LSU New Orleans along the lakefront, Louisiana Economic Development announced Thursday. Under Louisiana's plan, it would open in the fall of 2028 with a class of 300 cadets, eventually growing to more than 4,000. 

"The United States Space Academy belongs in a state that builds the rockets, supports our nation’s military and is now home to the world’s largest spaceport," Gov. Jeff Landry said.

LDEQ said described Louisiana's academy proposal as a "campus within a campus" that would have its own precinct, residence hall, academic space and formation grounds. 

The Space Academy would be a hub to train and educate the country's future astronauts, engineers, scientists and other leaders in space exploration. President Donald Trump first made the proposed academy public in August, and NASA then invited all 50 state governors to submit a proposal covering a location, site readiness and partner resources.