The retirement of NASA’s Space Shuttles in 2010 saw them distributed to museums across the U.S., including Florida, California, New York, and the Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum in Virginia. However, some Texas Republicans believe the Lone Star State, with its rich history in space exploration, deserves its own shuttle. This has led to the introduction of legislation aimed at relocating the Space Shuttle Discovery from the Smithsonian to Houston.
Senators John Cornyn and Ted Cruz introduced the “Bring the Space Shuttle Home Act,” which seeks to transfer Discovery, the oldest space-worthy shuttle, from the Smithsonian to NASA’s Johnson Space Center in Houston. The shuttle’s current location makes it a valuable asset for ongoing research and study.
The proposed legislation mandates the Smithsonian to develop a relocation plan, a task fraught with logistical challenges. As reported by collectSpace, the specialized hardware used to transport the shuttles in 2012 has since been decommissioned. One of the modified Boeing 747s responsible for ferrying the shuttles is now a museum exhibit itself and no longer airworthy. Refurbishing the other 747 would require extensive modifications, including new engines, according to collectSpace.
NASA employed one of its modified Boeing 747s to ferry three of the orbiters to their new homes. On a rainy night in April 2012, Discovery arrived at Dulles International Airport in Virginia.NASA used a modified Boeing 747 to transport the orbiters to their respective museums. This photo captures Discovery’s arrival at Dulles International Airport in Virginia in April 2012. Photo: NASA
Even if the flight to Houston were feasible, ground transportation presents another hurdle. Transporting the Space Shuttle Endeavour a mere 12 miles from LAX to the California Science Center required three days, the removal of hundreds of trees, and a monumental logistical effort.
Disassembling and reassembling Discovery is not a viable option either. According to collectSpace, this process would damage the thermal blankets and tiles, crucial components that contribute to its value as a flightworthy vessel for future research. Furthermore, even disassembled, the shuttle’s components remain too large for conventional transport.
These logistical complexities appear to be of little concern to the senators championing the bill. Senator Cornyn alleges that Texas was overlooked in the initial shuttle distribution due to political maneuvering by the Obama administration.
“Houston played a vital role in the Space Shuttle program,” Cornyn stated online. “It’s evident that political considerations overshadowed common sense and fairness when the Obama administration denied Houston the recognition it deserved. I’m proud to lead the effort to bring Discovery home to Houston, allowing future generations to learn about the city’s crucial contributions to the nation’s space program.”
Surprisingly, collectSpace reports that the Texas senators seemingly failed to consult with Space Center Houston before proposing this legislation. While museum officials haven’t expressed opposition to the plan, their lack of prior involvement raises questions.
“Houston, home to Johnson Space Center and Mission Control, boasts a remarkable legacy in space exploration,” Senator Cruz declared. “It’s long overdue for Space Center Houston to house a Space Shuttle, given the city’s integral role in the program. Bringing Discovery to its rightful home will provide countless visitors with a tangible connection to NASA’s history and showcase why Houston is known as ‘Space City.’”
Discovery’s maiden voyage from Kennedy Space Center took place on August 30, 1984. Its final mission, to the International Space Station, concluded on March 9, 2011.
