PHOENIX — Despite Arizona being home to the telescope where Pluto, once considered to be the ninth planet of our solar system, was discovered, and where NASA has conducted tests for some of its rovers, plus our storied history with UFOs and the mysterious "Phoenix Lights," Arizona will not be home to the U.S. Space Command.
On Thursday afternoon, The Department of the Air Force revealed the six candidates being considered to house the U.S. Space Command Headquarters -- and Arizona was not on that list.
Here are the finalists being considered.
- Kirtland Air Force Base in New Mexico
- Offutt Air Force Base in Nebraska
- Patrick Air Force Base in Florida
- Peterson Air Force Base in Colorado
- Port San Antonio in Texas
- Redstone Army Airfield in Alabama
The Air Force said it would now conduct virtual and on-site visits with each location and expects to select a preferred location in 2021. Factors being weighed include "mission, infrastructure capacity, community support, and costs to the Department of Defense," the Air Force said in a news release.
Peterson Air Force Base in Colorado Springs, Colorado is serving at the U.S. Space Command's temporary headquarters.
Last week, the Associated Press reported that members of Arizona's congressional delegation sent a letter to the U.S. Air Force advocating for the state to host the U.S. Space Command's headquarters.
