A New Future For Discovery?

Image Credit:  Michael Howard - We Report Space

Kennedy Space Center, FL. There has been quite a bit of interest lately in regards to an “old friend” of the Kennedy Space Center (K.S.C.). Space Shuttle “Discovery” also known as OV-103 is once again making news.

After retirement, Space Shuttle Discovery was obtained by the Smithsonian Institute for what was to be an historical display that would be seen by millions for many generations to come.

Image Credit:  Michael Howard - We Report Space

Launched from K.S.C. on many historical missions, it seems that there are some that would like to see this space ship move yet again. Discovery made its last mission into space in 2011 with STS-133 and then she flew into the history books and into its current home in Virginia with the Smithsonian.

Image Credit:  Michael Howard - We Report Space

However, with President Trumps “Big Beautiful Bill” signed on July 4th, one of the “side” or separate provisions that were buried deep in the 900-page bill, came from Texas Senators John Cornyn & Senator Ted Cruz, who drafted the “Bring the Space Shuttle Home Act” in April, 2025. Their provision specifically states “to transfer a” space vehicle” to a NASA center “involved in the administration of the Commercial Crew Program” and “placed on public display at an entity within the Metropolitan Statistical Area where such center is located”

The reason this provision is worded so broadly & vague was to allow it to implement a “round about” of the existing Senate restriction bills and thus not violating the “Byrd rule” established to alleviate “extraneous matter” out of Senate Bills & including items or funds specifically earmarked for specified recipients.

It seems that the senators feel that the Space Shuttle Discovery currently on display outside of Washington D.C. at the Smithsonian Institutes National Air and Space Museum in Chantilly, Virginia should be relocated to Houston, Texas. Senator Cornyn stated that there are economic & educational considerations for the local area.

Senator Cornyn was quoted as saying “There’s no question the Smithsonian is a national treasure, but it doesn’t hold all of the treasures that America has to show”. “It would be nice if there were more to go around, but since there are only 4 shuttles, we are going to get the one that we should have gotten back in 2010”

Meanwhile Senator Cruz stated “It is past time that the Space Center Houston Museum houses a space shuttle, given the unique relationship between the entire program and its support staff in Houston.”

Amazingly, neither Senator brought up the fact that in 2011, the NASA Office of the Inspector General held an official investigation of the process that NASA went through in determining where the remaining 4 shuttles would go to and found "no evidence that the White House, politics, or any other outside force improperly influenced the selection decision." The OIG did find one "significant error," but it would have benefited the National Museum of the US Air Force in Ohio, had it been selected.

Nor does either Senator apparently remember that the Director of the Johnson Space Center located in Houston Wayne Hale wrote “Houston didn’t get an orbiter, because Houston didn’t deserve one”. His statement was backed by weak support from area politicians, media & residents, describing a “sense of entitlement”.

When the decision-making process was finished, the Space Center in Houston came in 2nd from the last place. That is with over 20 locations vying to be considered. To permanently host displaying a shuttle.

The Senate bill fails to specifically mention the Smithsonian Institute or the shuttle Discovery. Next up the U.S. House of Representatives

Understandably, the Senators failed to mention that funds needed to facilitate such a move would be appropriated from the $10 billion appropriation going to NASA.

Finally, and this takes the cake…sitting in Houston (Home of the Johnson Space Center) is a full size mockup of the shuttle “Explorer” atop one of the NASA Boeing 747 SCA (Space Carrier Aircraft) jumbo jets that actually ferried the Space Shuttles. It has been open to the public on display since 2015. On opening to the public, Space Center Houston stated that this could “also serve as the centerpiece for new educational programs to inspire students to consider careers in math and science fields.”

 $85 million has already been earmarked towards the “Bring the Space Shuttle Home” while there are other estimates of cost from $200 million to $1 billion depending on whom one talks to.

Several key facts that were not even discussed is the cost of dismantling the existing Udvar-Hazy Center where Space Shuttle Discovery is currently located. A glaring factoid is getting the shuttle to Texas…The jetliners which were specially built and modified Boeing 747s have long been non operational or dismantled. That leaves transportation across public roads $50-$55 million, barges, ships, etc…, construction of a building in Houston ($250 million), and the high risk of significant damage to the shuttle.

National Air & Space Museum director Chris Browne stated “Our position is that the Discovery is staying right where it is.” And the Smithsonian provided data showing that more than 25 million people from around the world have viewed the shuttle.

“It would be unprecedented for Congress to remove an object from a Smithsonian collection and send it somewhere else,” the Smithsonian said in its document. It notes that the Discovery is not on loan from NASA; ownership was transferred to the National Air and Space Museum.

The Smithsonian also notes that it does not manage collections as “government property subject to federal property disposal rules.” Instead, artifacts are treated as trust objects subject to Smithsonian control.

Virginia Senator Tim Kaine filed amendments against the “Big Beautiful Bill”, one of which was “To prevent the transfer of the Space Shuttle Discovery from the National Air and Space Museum in Chantilly, Virginia — where it is available for viewing to the public free of charge — to Houston, Texas. The transfer would cost hundreds of millions in taxpayer dollars and force Americans to pay an admission fee to view the shuttle.”

There were more than 20 organizations which submitted proposals for the display of the Shuttles.

NASA made the final decision and they were assigned in 2010 as follows:

Enterprise OV-101 Intrepid Museum New York City, New York

Discovery OV-103 Udvar-Hazy Center Natl Air & Space Museum Chantilly, Va

Atlantis  OV-104 Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex Merritt Island, Fl

Endeavour OV-105 California Science Center, California

Article by: Graham Smith – We Report Space

Image Credits: Michael Howard – We Report Space at Kennedy Space Center

Image Credits: Andrew Albosta – We Report Space at Smithsonian Institute

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