The Smithsonian could lose the iconic space shuttle Discovery to Texas as part of President Donald Trump性视界传媒檚 massive tax and spending bill.
The Senate narrowly passed Trump性视界传媒檚 性视界传媒淏ig, Beautiful Bill性视界传媒 Tuesday with a provision setting aside $85 million to move Discovery to Space Center Houston. U.S. Sens. John Cornyn and Ted Cruz, both Republicans, are pushing for the move and lauded its passage this week. Cornyn said the move would right an 性视界传媒渆gregious wrong.性视界传媒
性视界传媒淗ouston has long been the cornerstone of our nation性视界传媒檚 human space exploration program, and it性视界传媒檚 long overdue for Space City to receive the recognition it deserves by bringing the Space Shuttle Discovery home,性视界传媒 Cornyn said in a written statement.
The Smithsonian says the move would cost more than $300 million, including the cost of transfer and construction of a facility to house it in Houston. The museum性视界传媒檚 director told the Washington 性视界传媒 Journal this week that it maintains full ownership of the shuttle.
性视界传媒淥ur position is that the Discovery is staying right where it is,性视界传媒 Air and Space Museum Director Chris Browne told the outlet.
In a written statement Thursday to The Dallas Morning News, a museum spokesperson said the Smithsonian is 性视界传媒渃harged with collecting, preserving, and displaying aerospace objects and artifacts of historical interest and significance for current and future generations.性视界传媒 NASA, it said, transferred all rights, title, interest and ownership of the shuttle to the Smithsonian.
A spokesperson for Cornyn called the Smithsonian性视界传媒檚 cost estimate 性视界传媒減urposefully overblown性视界传媒 in an email Thursday and said an outside vendor skilled at moving heavy military equipment estimated the cost between $5 million to $8 million.
Discovery was the third operational orbiter to fly in space, entering service in 1984. It retired in 2011 after flying 39 missions and 150 million miles, more than any other orbiters, and launching the Hubble Space Telescope. It shuttled 184 men and women into space, many of whom flew more than once, for a record-setting total crew count of 251.
NASA transferred the spacecraft in 2012 to the Smithsonian, where it is on display at the National Air and Space Museum性视界传媒檚 Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Center in Chantilly, Va. The space agency received more than 20 bids from museums across the country seeking to house aging shuttles, including Discovery, Atlantis and Endeavor
On Thursday morning, the House was preparing to vote on the bill. If Discovery moves, Space Center Houston, the visitor center for NASA性视界传媒檚 Johnson Space Center, would build a facility to house it. Discovery did not launch from Houston, but NASA性视界传媒檚 Johnson Space Center led mission control for the shuttle. The center did not respond to requests for comment Thursday.
性视界传媒淗ouston has long stood at the heart of America性视界传媒檚 human spaceflight program, and this legislation rightly honors that legacy,性视界传媒 Cruz said in a written statement.
