On Aug. 28, President Trump directed a new presidential commission to design a United States Space Academy, a NASA-led federal institution intended to educate and develop future astronauts, scientists, engineers and warfighters. The president directly referenced existing military academies as the model — institutions that combine technical education with leadership development, discipline, public service and a common service identity. While a physical campus is one way to create a corps of space leaders, it is not the only way or the best way. Rather than create another federal college and associated bureaucracy, the commission should recommend establishing the Space Academy as a scholarship-for-service program. 

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Todd Harrison is a senior fellow at the American Enterprise Institute, where he focuses on defense budgeting, space policy and space security. He previously worked at other think tanks, as a senior executive in industry and as a captain in the Air Force...