U.S. Rep. wants state for ‘Space’ HQ

Published 4:49 am Wednesday, March 13, 2019

U.S. Rep. Dr. Ralph Abraham, R-La., recently wrote a letter to President Donald Trump pitching Louisiana as the future headquarters for the new United States Space Command.

Abraham noted that Louisiana is the prime location for Space Command’s headquarters given that the state has existing relationships with the military and NASA.

“Should you select Louisiana as the headquarters for Space Command, you can rest assured that you will have picked a state that is open for investment and one that has unique qualities ideally suited to support Space Command’s growth and development,” Abraham said, in the letter. “I look forward to working with you on seeing Space Command to the finish line as we take the next step in America’s rich and vibrant history of space exploration and development.”

In his letter, Abraham highlights Air Force Global Strike Command headquarters at Barksdale Air Force Base as a great opportunity to help launch Space Command, as plans for the new military branch require that it first develop within the Air Force.

He also points to Louisiana’s Michaud Assembly Facility’s long history of working with NASA to support the Space Program. The facility’s involvement with space exploration dates to the Apollo Program.

Louisiana also has two space grant universities, Louisiana Tech and LSU, that could provide support to Space Command, Abraham noted.

Abraham has congressional expertise in the matters of both the military and space. He is a member of the House Armed Services Committee, and he served as a subcommittee chairman on the House Committee on Science, Space and Technology.