'Space Command belongs in the Rocket City:' Alabama elected officials champion Huntsville as home of U.S. Space Command

On the one-year anniversary of the U.S. Air Force’s announcement that Huntsville would become the new home of the U.S. Space Command, top Alabama elected officials are reaffirming their commitment to declare the Rocket City as the ideal headquarters for combatant command.

Currently based at Colorado’s Peterson Air Force Base, the air service branch ultimately chose the U.S. Army’s Redstone Arsenal to be the new home to the Space Command due to a number of deciding factors.

While the move to relocate the Space Command to Huntsville was met with pushback from Colorado lawmakers, the Air Force made it clear that Alabama’s largest city was prime location for the command.

Among the factors cited was the cost of construction for the Space Command’s new facilities. As Air Force assistant secretary John Roth noted, the cost of construction in Huntsville is significantly more cost efficient than where it is currently stationed in Colorado Springs.

Given the number of federal and industrial partners located in Huntsville, the Space Command, once relocated, will be prime positioned in close proximity to bountiful assets residing in the Rocket City.

While Huntsville boasts abundant resources which make it an attractive location for the command’s relocation, Alabama’s federal elected officials are ensuring its standing is bolstered in preparation for its targeted 2026 arrival date.

In the fiscal year 2022 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA), Alabama secured funding for satellite security and space-based communications investment, as well as funding to address threats posed to the nation’s cyberinfrastructure.

During her State of the State address earlier this week, Gov. Kay Ivey championed Huntsville as being “the best choice” to headquarter the Space Command.

Numerous high-ranking Alabama elected officials on Thursday accompanied Ivey in reasserting their support for Huntsville’s role in ensuring the defense of the United States’ space assets.

Space Command belongs in the 🚀Rocket City! @US_SpaceCom @huntsvillecity @TeamRedstone #alpolitics pic.twitter.com/TABfmc6x25

— Governor Kay Ivey (@GovernorKayIvey) January 13, 2022

One year ago today, Alabama was announced as the home for U.S. Space Command. Huntsville was the perfect place to build the rockets that carried men to the moon, and it remains the commonsense choice for Space Command Headquarters today. The road to space runs through Alabama. pic.twitter.com/roxtwZmrXM

— Will Ainsworth (@willainsworthAL) January 13, 2022

It was one year ago today that the Air Force announced Huntsville is the preferred location for U.S. Space Command (@US_SpaceCom).

What was proved true then is true now and will remain true: Space Command belongs in the Rocket City.https://t.co/aXGtZqZs5w

— Tommy Battle (@TommyBattle) January 13, 2022

Today marks the one year anniversary of the Pentagon announcing Huntsville’s Redstone Arsenal as the preferred location for U.S. Space Command headquarters. There can be no doubt that Space Command belongs in the Rocket City! pic.twitter.com/PBgv8YWgzS

— Mo Brooks (@RepMoBrooks) January 14, 2022

It’s now been one year since the announcement that United States Space Command would be permanently headquartered in Huntsville. Space Command belongs in the Rocket City. It’s the perfect match. pic.twitter.com/JAn4ajnAkL

— Robert Aderholt (@Robert_Aderholt) January 13, 2022