Space Command Is Moving to Huntsville: A Housing Timeline

If you work for U.S. Space Command, you've probably heard a lot of dates and numbers. This post sticks to what's been officially announced or reported, with sources, and then covers the housing side: when to start looking and how to search from Colorado Springs.

Numbers below are as of the dates shown. We'll update this post as new announcements come out.

What's been announced

The decision. On September 2, 2025, the President announced that U.S. Space Command headquarters would move to Redstone Arsenal. The City of Huntsville said that day that about 1,400 Space Command jobs would transition to Redstone over the next five years, and that about 60 acres near the center of the Arsenal had been identified for the headquarters facility.

The first unit. Space Command says its first personnel transition happened April 15, 2026. On April 29, 2026, the command held a ribbon-cutting and took operational control of a facility on Redstone for its Joint Intelligence Support Element, which the command says will be an 80-person team when its transition is complete.

Where things stand. MeriTalk reported on September 3, 2026, citing a Defense Department announcement, that more than 140 Space Command headquarters personnel were working from three facilities on Redstone. The command expected 200 uniformed and civilian personnel by the end of 2026 and 900 in fiscal year 2028, about half of its full staff. Space Command's April release says the commander's goal is to have at least half of the command operating from Redstone by the end of 2028.

The permanent building. The same MeriTalk report says $57 million this fiscal year is dedicated to planning and design of the permanent command and control facility. Until it's built, the command operates from interim facilities.

What that means for your timeline

The arrivals are spread over years, not one wave. That gives you room to plan, but your own report date matters far more than the headline numbers.

If you're arriving in the next six months, you're likely looking at a finished home or a rental. If you're military, start with the Housing Services Office (One Stop, Building 3494, Honest John Road, 256-876-6666). Military OneSource says new arrivals must check with the HSO before making housing arrangements.

If you're arriving in 2027 or 2028, you may have time to build. Our post on new construction timelines vs. your report date explains how to line those up.

If your date isn't set, renting first is a reasonable way to keep options open. See rent first or buy right away.

House-hunting from Colorado Springs

You can do much of the search before you come out.

• Learn the gates. Space Command's facilities are on the Arsenal, so you'll use the same gates as everyone else. Gate 9 on Rideout Road is open 24/7. Other gates have shorter weekday hours. Our gate hours guide has the full table.
• Ask which gate your office uses. That one answer shapes your search more than any map.
• Check school districts by address, not by city. Read how school enrollment works after a move.
• Get pre-approved, and if you're using a VA loan, request your COE early. Our BAH and VA loan post covers the basics.
• See homes by video. We can walk homes with you on a video call and line up a short list for a single trip.

A few Alabama details worth knowing

We'll skip price comparisons with Colorado, since they change and depend on the home. A few practical points do matter. Alabama property taxes are due October 1 and delinquent after December 31, according to the Alabama Department of Revenue. In Madison County, the homestead exemption requires the home to be your primary residence on October 1 of the tax year, with a December 31 deadline to apply. And "Huntsville" on an address doesn't always mean Huntsville city limits or Huntsville City Schools, so check each property.

Where to start

Our hub page, Relocating to Huntsville with the FBI or Space Command, pulls together what's moving and when. For the bigger picture, read Moving to Huntsville for Redstone Arsenal, and if you're in uniform, our PCS to Redstone Arsenal guide.

Tell us your report window and what you're looking for, and we'll help you plan from there. Get the Huntsville relocation guide or call The Nicolaou Group at Capstone Realty at 256.993.5800.

Sources

• City of Huntsville, "U.S. Space Command Headquarters is moving to Huntsville" (Sept 2, 2025): https://www.huntsvilleal.gov/u-s-space-command-headquarters-is-moving-to-huntsville/
• U.S. Space Command, "U.S. Space Command Takes Operational Control of Facility at Redstone Arsenal" (Apr 29, 2026): https://www.spacecom.mil/Newsroom/News/Article-Display/Article/4473792/
• MeriTalk, "Space Command Relocation to Alabama Moves Forward One Year After Decision" (Sept 3, 2026): https://www.meritalk.com/articles/space-command-relocation-to-alabama-moves-forward-one-year-after-decision/
• Redstone Arsenal, For Newcomers (HSO at One Stop, Building 3494): https://home.army.mil/redstone/my-fort/newcomers. Military OneSource, Redstone Arsenal Housing (HSO): https://installations.militaryonesource.mil/military-installation/redstone-arsenal/housing/housing
• Redstone Arsenal, Gate Information and Access Control: https://home.army.mil/redstone/about/Garrison/DES/physical-security/access-control. Redstone Arsenal, Visitor Information (cross-check of gate hours): https://home.army.mil/redstone/about/visitor-information
• Alabama Department of Revenue, property tax due dates
• Madison County Tax Assessor, Homestead Exemption Information