posted 07-17-2025 01:47 PM               

quote:

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Originally posted by OV-105:
It still has the orbiter attachment points on it...

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posted 07-21-2025 08:23 PM               

The relocation would be a mistake on several fronts — it's a misuse of taxpayer money, sets a precedent of political plunder at the Smithsonian, and moving Discovery would be extraordinarily difficult and risk damaging a priceless piece of American history.

posted 07-23-2025 01:39 PM               

Morelle Amendment to Keep Space Shuttle Discovery in the Smithsonian Moves Forward

Today, Rep. Joe Morelle (NY-25), the top Democrat on the Committee on House Administration, issued the following statement about his amendment introduced during the Appropriations Full Committee Markup of the FY26 Interior and Environment Bill to keep the Space Shuttle Discovery with the Smithsonian. The amendment was successfully adopted and will be included in the bill to be considered by the full House:

"The forced removal and relocation of the Space Shuttle Discovery from the Smithsonian Institution's Air and Space Museum is inappropriate, wasteful, and wrong. Neither the Smithsonian nor American taxpayers should be forced to spend hundreds of millions of dollars on this misguided effort. I am grateful for the bipartisan support of my colleagues on this amendment and hope we can continue working together throughout the remainder of the Appropriations process to keep a treasured Smithsonian artifact where it belongs," said Ranking Member Morelle.

posted 08-05-2025 06:40 PM               

Cornyn Secures Relocation of Retired NASA Shuttle to Houston

U.S. Senator John Cornyn (R-TX) released the following statement in response to National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) Acting Administrator Sean Duffy's approval of a retired NASA space shuttle to be moved to a non-profit near the Johnson Space Center (JSC) in Houston, an effort that was spearheaded by Senator Cornyn and signed into law by President Trump as part of the One Big Beautiful Bill Act:

"Since the inception of our nation's human space exploration program, Houston has been at the center of our most historic achievements, from training the best and brightest to voyage into the great unknown to putting the first man on the moon," said Sen. Cornyn. "There is no better place for one of NASA's space shuttles to be displayed than Space City, and I thank Acting Administrator Duffy for rectifying the Obama Administration's error and look forward to welcoming this iconic orbiter to its rightful home."

posted 08-06-2025 12:40 AM               

Houston, you've got a space shuttle... only NASA won't say which one

The head of NASA has decided to move one of the agency's retired space shuttles to Houston, but which one seems to still be up in the air.

Senator John Cornyn (R-Texas), who earlier this year introduced and championed an effort to relocate the space shuttle Discovery from the Smithsonian to Space Center Houston, issued a statement on Tuesday evening (Aug. 5) applauding the decision by acting NASA Administrator Sean Duffy.

posted 08-06-2025 09:37 AM               

SPACE VEHICLE DESCRIBED. A space vehicle described in this paragraph is a vessel that

1. has flown into space;
   
2. has carried astronauts; and
   
3. is selected with the concurrence of an entity designated by the Administrator.

posted 08-06-2025 02:41 PM               

I believe the proposed lunar and Mars facility, though, was set aside before talk of moving a shuttle to Houston even began. Texas A&M University broke ground in November 2024 for a similar facility, part of its new Space Institute, to be erected across the street from Space Center Houston in the new Exploration Park.

The institute, expected to open in September 2026, will feature the world's largest indoor simulation spaces for lunar and Martian surface operations, high-bay laboratories, and multifunctional project rooms.

posted 08-07-2025 11:09 PM               

Texas lawmakers: Investigate Smithsonian over space shuttle move protest

Texas lawmakers, seemingly not content with having gotten NASA's endorsement to move a retired space shuttle to Houston, are now calling for an investigation into how the Smithsonian allegedly objected to relocating the orbiter it has owned for over a decade.

Senator John Cornyn and Representative Randy Weber on Thursday (Aug. 7) sent a letter to John Roberts, the Smithsonian Institution's chancellor and Chief Justice of the United States, suggesting that the Smithsonian's staff may have violated the law by their efforts to block legislation authorizing the space vehicle's transfer.

posted 08-20-2025 04:20 AM               

It's also nice to see that some in the local Houston media have opposition to this situation, despite Houston being the only potential benefactor from it. I'm sure most people in Houston would love to have a Space Shuttle on display in their city, so it's good to see that people can look past their own potential gain when the costs to the overall nation are so high.

posted 08-20-2025 08:00 AM               

I didn't catch the "Gulf" reference until I went back and listened to it. It was not done purposefully. (When I write for this site, I generally follow AP style and so still use Gulf of Mexico as the body of water is internationally known.)

posted 08-20-2025 06:03 PM               

If acting administrator Sean Duffy had not already identified Houston as the location, then the most elegant solution I have heard would be to give Atlantis to the Astronauts Memorial Foundation.

NASA would transfer title to the orbiter to the AMF (a non-profit located within the municipality of a NASA field center involved in the Commercial Crew Program). The AMF would not have to worry about delivery or display expenses as, like Atlantis, the AMF is already located at the Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex.

posted 09-09-2025 05:23 PM               

The Fairfax County Board of Supervisors just completed a unanimous and bipartisan vote opposing the proposed relocation of the Space Shuttle Discovery from the Smithsonian. A recording of Chairman Jeff McKay's comments and the Board vote is available here, and we will follow up with the final version of the letter to acting NASA Administrator Sean Duffy shortly.

posted 09-29-2025 09:34 AM               

Astronaut-Senator to appropriators: Leave space shuttle Discovery in Smithsonian

A former NASA astronaut-turned-U.S. Senator has joined with other lawmakers to insist that his twice ride to space remain grounded and on display in the Smithsonian.

Mark Kelly, who today represents the state of Arizona, has joined with fellow Democrat Senators Mark Warner and Tim Kaine, both of Virginia, and Dick Durbin of Illinois to try to halt the move of space shuttle Discovery to Houston, as enacted into law earlier this year. Kelly flew two of his four missions aboard Discovery.

posted 10-02-2025 05:46 PM               

quote:

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Originally posted by Jim Behling:
Dismantling and storing a MDD would be a waste of money.

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The parts could have been stored around Edwards AFB; there are several aircraft abandoned around there such as a B-58 for example. It costs nothing to let it sit there. Another example of storing outside at no cost was the storage of the disassembled LUT used for Saturn V launches. It sat at KSC for decades before the EPA said it had to be removed because it posed an environmental hazard.

Storing the MDD was possible without incurring storage fees. Still, the MDD alone is of no use without a carrier aircraft to move an orbiter.

I still believe an SCA and the MDD should have been stored as long as the SCA could be made to fly again. One SCA could have been kept on Edwards AFB property for an indefinite period. (B-52Hs are stored in Arizona; one was put back in service to replace one that crashed, so desert storage is practical.)

At some point Boeing will not make parts for 747s and all existing 747s will be in museums and the rest scrapped. However, from 2011 to 2031, or 2041 (two or three decades) keeping an SCA and MDD available was practical.

posted 10-06-2025 06:26 AM               

In a letter sent to Congressional leaders, the Smithsonian warns the beloved historic gem in Virginia could be taken apart if the effort to relocate it advances.

Amid an ongoing debate, the letter is in response to a request from the White House's Office of Management and Budget for NASA and the Smithsonian to prepare the move to Texas within 18 months and determine the "actual costs" associated with the move.

"While an engineering study will be necessary due to the size and weight of the space vehicle, both NASA and the Smithsonian believe that Discovery will have to undergo significant disassembly to be moved," the letter sent to Appropriations Committee members read. "Discovery is the most intact shuttle orbiter of the NASA program, and we remain concerned that disassembling the vehicle will destroy its historical value."

posted 10-06-2025 04:47 PM               

While they charge the Smithsonian with spreading lies, they continue to cite long debunked (by the Office of Inspector General) claims that the process to award the space shuttles was influenced by partisan politics.

Cornyn, Cruz Urge Preservation of Funds to Move Space Shuttle Discovery, Debunk Smithsonian's Lies

Senators Call on Appropriators to Ensure Intent of One Big Beautiful Bill to Move Discovery to Houston is Not Undermined in FY26 Funding Process

U.S. Senators John Cornyn (R-TX) and Ted Cruz (R-TX) today sent a letter to U.S. Senators Susan Collins (R-ME), Chair of the Senate Committee on Appropriations, and Patty Murray (D-WA), Vice Chair of the Senate Committee on Appropriations, urging them to ensure the Fiscal Year 2026 appropriations measures are not used to pause any efforts to relocate Space Shuttle Discovery to its rightful home in Houston, an action that was enshrined into law when President Trump signed the One Big Beautiful Bill Act (OBBB).

The letter comes as the Smithsonian Institution continues its frivolous misinformation campaign in a clear attempt to thwart the law and keep Discovery at its current location in Virginia. This includes Smithsonian staff potentially violating the Anti-Lobbying Act, spreading lies about logistics related to the move as well as inflated, inconsistent cost estimates about the move that are directly contradicted by a report from the objective Congressional Research Service, and claiming the Smithsonian is not a government entity and therefore not impacted by the OBBB provision despite two-thirds of its budget coming from federal appropriations.

"The Smithsonian Institution has actively worked to block this legislation, taking deliberate steps to oppose both its passage and implementation. These actions include lobbying staff from the Senate Appropriations and Rules Committees, as well as coordinating with members of the press to generate public opposition, conduct that appears to violate the Anti-Lobbying Act. As part of its opposition effort, the Smithsonian has disseminated misinformation about the logistics of the move, falsely claiming that the shuttle's wings would need to be removed for transport, a claim not supported by industry experts. Furthermore, we also have serious concerns about the credibility of the cost estimates they have provided, which are more than ten times higher than quotes from experienced private-sector logistics firms. These actions raise serious ethical and legal questions, particularly given that the Smithsonian is a federal government entity," wrote the Senators.

"The Smithsonian claims it is not a government entity. However, the Institution is fundamentally a creation of Congress. Since its establishment, the Smithsonian Institution has been functionally a part of the federal government. The United States Department of the Treasury holds and manages the Smithsonian's original trust fund. Two-thirds of the Smithsonian's budget derives from federal appropriations, and its employees are federal employees. The Comptroller General has concluded that funds appropriated to the Smithsonian must be used in accordance with federal law," they continued.

"We respectfully request that you refrain from including any language that would repeal parts of President Trump's One Big Beautiful Bill Act by delaying or obstructing the lawful relocation of Space Shuttle Discovery to its new and rightful home at Space Center Houston. This relocation honors both the intent of Congress and the legacy of America's space program. It is time for the Space Shuttle Discovery return to the community that helped make its missions possible," they concluded.

The full text of the letter is below.

October 6, 2025

The Honorable Susan Collins
Chair
Committee on Appropriations
United States Senate
Washington, DC 20510

The Honorable Patty Murray
Vice Chair
Committee on Appropriations
United States Senate
Washington, DC 20510

Dear Chair Collins and Vice Chair Murray,

We write to urge the Senate Appropriations Committee not to include any language in the final fiscal year (FY) 2026 spending measures to pause any efforts to relocate Space Shuttle Discovery to its new home at the Space Center Houston in Texas. The appropriations process should not be used to play partisan politics and repeal provisions of President Trump's One Big Beautiful Bill Act.

This provision corrects an egregious injustice committed by the Obama Administration, where the selection of shuttle locations was clearly tainted by political influence. The National Aeronautics and Space Administration Authorization Act of 2010 expressly states that NASA shall prioritize the awarding of the shuttles to locations "with a historical relationship with either the launch, flight operations, or processing of the Space Shuttle orbiters or the retrieval of NASA manned space vehicles, or significant contributions to human space flight." Mission Control at NASA's Johnson Space Center led all of the space shuttle flights throughout the program's history, and the astronauts who flew aboard the shuttles lived and trained in the Houston area. As the cornerstone of America's human space exploration program, Houston is long overdue for the honor of bringing Space Shuttle Discovery home.

In 2008, the first Request for Information (RFI) was guided by objective criteria, including funding capability at $42 million, transportation logistics, mission relevance, visitor attendance, and facility readiness. Under this RFI, Johnson Space Center emerged as a leading candidate and was expected to receive one of the retired shuttles. Three of the four shuttles were to be placed at NASA visitor centers, Texas, Alabama, Florida, and the final shuttle at the Smithsonian Institution. Johnson Space Center received a max score in the criteria listed under "Mission tie to Shuttle." However, in 2009, after the confirmation of Administrator Bolden, this merit-based process was overtaken by political considerations.

Administrator Bolden, influenced by partisan pressure, wanted the retired shuttles sent to locations based on the political interests of the Democratic Party. He therefore altered the selection criteria at the request of Senator Schumer. He removed criteria that benefited locations with a mission tie to the shuttle, and he instructed the Recommendation Team to include the criteria of attendance, regional population, and consider a location's access to international visitors. This shift disregarded the clear legal mandate and historical record, resulting in shuttle assignments to locations that lacked authentic ties to the shuttle program. The prioritization of international visitor access over the interests of American citizens was a deliberate shift clearly intended to produce a politically favorable outcome. As a result, in 2011, the shuttle assignments were awarded to California, New York, Florida, and Northern Virginia. Notably, Space Center Houston receives more visitors than the National Air and Space Museum Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Center, further underscoring the flawed and politically motivated nature of the award decision.

This year, Congress acted to rectify this injustice with the passage of President Trump's One Big Beautiful Bill Act. Signed into law on July 4, 2025, the legislation authorizes the transfer of a NASA-designated space vehicle to a facility involved in the Commercial Crew Program, and then to a local entity within the same metropolitan area for public display. The law requires NASA to obligate $85 million, of which not less than $5 million is to be used for transporting a space vehicle, with the remainder designated for building a display facility. In August, Acting Administrator Sean Duffy approved relocation of the Space Shuttle Discovery to a non-profit near the Johnson Space Center (JSC) in Houston, ensuring the historic orbiter will soon be accessible to the public in one of NASA's most storied communities.

Those opposing the relocation of the Space Shuttle Discovery have been circulating misinformation about both the cost and logistics of the move. In contrast, we have taken the responsible approach by consulting directly with reputable transportation logistics companies to obtain accurate cost estimates for transporting the shuttle. Rather than relying on secondhand reports or speculative figures, we took the initiative to consult directly with preservation experts who have hands-on experience in relocating and housing historic spacecraft. Based on this due diligence, we are confident that the relocation and proper housing of the Space Shuttle Discovery will be fully supported by funding from the One Big Beautiful Bill Act and the State of Texas.

The Smithsonian Institution has actively worked to block this legislation, taking deliberate steps to oppose both its passage and implementation. These actions include lobbying staff from the Senate Appropriations and Rules Committees, as well as coordinating with members of the press to generate public opposition, conduct that appears to violate the Anti-Lobbying Act. As part of its opposition effort, the Smithsonian has disseminated misinformation about the logistics of the move, falsely claiming that the shuttle's wings would need to be removed for transport, a claim not supported by industry experts. Furthermore, we also have serious concerns about the credibility of the cost estimates they have provided, which are more than ten times higher than quotes from experienced private-sector logistics firms. These actions raise serious ethical and legal questions, particularly given that the Smithsonian is a federal government entity.

The Smithsonian claims it is not a government entity. However, the Institution is fundamentally a creation of Congress. Since its establishment, the Smithsonian Institution has been functionally a part of the federal government. The United States Department of the Treasury holds and manages the Smithsonian's original trust fund. Two-thirds of the Smithsonian's budget derives from federal appropriations, and its employees are federal employees. The Comptroller General has concluded that funds appropriated to the Smithsonian must be used in accordance with federal law. Moreover, the Smithsonian is represented in litigation by the U.S. Department of Justice, and judgments against the Smithsonian are paid from the United States Judgment Fund. Notably, the Smithsonian has not sued any federal executive branch agency. United States Federal Courts have repeatedly recognized the Smithsonian as a federal government entity subject to federal law and entitled to governmental immunities. In the words of the United States District Court for the District of Columbia, the "Smithsonian is a government institution through and through." With that status comes a responsibility to uphold the highest legal and ethical standards. Its credibility and continued public trust depend on it.

For these reasons, we respectfully request that you refrain from including any language that would repeal parts of President Trump's One Big Beautiful Bill Act by delaying or obstructing the lawful relocation of Space Shuttle Discovery to its new and rightful home at Space Center Houston. This relocation honors both the intent of Congress and the legacy of America's space program. It is time for the Space Shuttle Discovery return to the community that helped make its missions possible.

Sincerely,

Senator John Cornyn
U.S. Senator for Texas

Senator Ted Cruz
U.S. Senator for Texas

posted 10-22-2025 06:10 PM               

TX lawmakers double down on Discovery, call for DOJ investigation into Smithsonian

Have you heard the news that Texas' senators want to chop up NASA's retired space shuttle Discovery in order to move it from the Smithsonian to Houston? The lawmakers in question have and are now crying foul to the Justice Department.

Senators John Cornyn (R-TX) and Ted Cruz (R-TX), together with Rep. Randy Weber (R-TX-14) on Wednesday (Oct. 22) sent a letter to the DOJ urging the Smithsonian be investigated for violating the Anti-Lobbying Act. They claim that the institution — Discovery's home for the past 13 years — improperly used appropriated funds to influence Congress with regards to relocating the winged orbiter.

posted 10-25-2025 09:06 AM               

For comparison, Endeavour traveled 12 miles overland from LAX to the California Science Center. It took three days and cost $9 million (not including the $2 million needed to replant the trees that had to be removed along the route).