The Smithsonian\u2019s National Air and Space Museum in Washington, D.C., has been home to Space Shuttle Discovery for more than a decade. Each year, millions of visitors get the chance to munch on freeze-dried \u201castronaut ice cream\u201d and gaze up at the iconic spaceship that launched the Hubble Space Telescope and built the International Space Station.<\/p>\n
Future visitors, however, may not be so lucky. According to NASA Watch<\/a>, the White House budget office has asked the Smithsonian to begin chopping up Discovery in preparation to move it to Houston, Texas. NASA Watch called the development \u201cunprecedented and alarming,\u201d as NASA did not design Discovery to be disassembled, and doing so could result in irreparable damage, particularly to the shuttle\u2019s frame, heat shield, and thermal insulation fabric.<\/p>\n Jeopardizing a piece of American spaceflight history <\/p>\n Discovery was the longest-serving and most active orbiter of NASA\u2019s space shuttle program, flying<\/a> 39 missions between 1984 and 2011. In addition to playing an instrumental role in building the ISS and deploying the Hubble Space Telescope, Discovery served as the \u201cReturn to Flight\u201d vehicle after the Challenger and Columbia disasters.<\/p>\n The \u201cOne Big Beautiful Bill\u201d Act, signed<\/a> into law on July 4, included a bill introduced<\/a> by Senators Ted Cruz (R-TX) and John Cornyn (R-TX) to \u201cbring Discovery home to Texas.\u201d In a recent letter addressed to Congressional Authorizing and Appropriating Committees\u2014obtained by NASA Watch\u2014the Smithsonian states that the White House budget office has asked it to work with NASA to prepare to move Discovery within the 18 months specified in the reconciliation bill.<\/p>\n \u201cWhile 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,\u201d the letter reads. \u201cDiscovery is the most intact shuttle orbiter of the NASA program, and we remain concerned that disassembling the vehicle will destroy its historical value.\u201d<\/p>\n The move would come at a significant financial cost as well. The Smithsonian and NASA estimate the minimum cost of Discovery\u2019s relocation is in the range of $120 million to $150 million, not taking into account the costs associated with building a new facility in Houston to house the shuttle. The letter also notes that NASA transferred \u201call rights, title, interest and ownership\u201d of the shuttle to the Smithsonian.<\/p>\n Grassroots organizers and Democratic Senators fight back <\/p>\n State Senator and former NASA astronaut Mark Kelly (D-AZ)\u2014who flew two missions aboard Discovery during his previous career\u2014has joined forces with Senators Mark Warner (D-VA), Tim Kaine (D-VA), and Dick Durbin (D-IL) to prevent Discovery\u2019s relocation.<\/p>\n In a letter sent to the Senate Appropriations Committee on September 23, they call for fiscal year 2026 spending measures to pause any efforts to move the space shuttle to Houston, citing the \u201ccompetitive\u201d process that selected the Smithsonian as the resting place for Discovery.<\/p>\n \u201cHouston\u2019s disappointment in not being selected is wholly understandable, but removing an item from the National Collection is not a viable solution,\u201d the letter reads. \u201cIt is worth noting that there is little evidence of broad public demand for such a move.\u201d<\/p>\n