Senators Try To Halt Shuttle Move, Saying 'Little Evidence' of Public Demand

Sen. Mark Kelly and three Democratic colleagues urged appropriations leaders to block funding for moving space shuttle Discovery from the Smithsonian's Udvar-Hazy Center in Virginia to Houston, arguing the transfer would waste taxpayer money, risk permanent damage, and restrict public access. The relocation, pushed by Texas senators Cornyn and Cruz under a new law, carries an estimated cost of nearly $400 million. Ars Technica reports: 'Why should hundreds of millions of taxpayer dollars be spent just to jeopardize a piece of American history that's already protected and on display?' wrote Kelly in a social media post on Friday. 'Space Shuttle Discovery belongs at the Smithsonian, where millions of people, including students and veterans, go to see it for free.' In a letter sent on the same day to the leadership of the Senate Committee on Appropriations, Kelly and his three colleagues cautioned that any effort to transfer the winged orbiter would 'waste taxpayer dollars, risk permanent damage to the shuttle, and mean fewer visitors would be able to visit it.' 'It is worth noting that there is little evidence of broad public demand for such a move,' wrote Kelly, Warner, Kaine, and Durbin.

In the letter, the senators asked that committee chair Susan Collins (R-Maine) and vice chair Patty Murray (D-Wash.) block funding for Discovery's relocation in both the fiscal year 2026 Interior-Environment appropriations bill and FY26 Commerce, Justice, Science appropriations bill. 'Houston's disappointment in not being selected is wholly understandable,' the four senators wrote, 'but removing an item from the National Collection is not a viable solution.' 'There are also profound financial challenges associated with this transfer,' wrote Kelly. Warner, Kaine, and Durbin. 'The Smithsonian estimates that transporting Discovery from Virginia to Houston could cost more than $50 million, with another $325 million needed for planning, exhibit reconstruction, and new facilities.' 'Dedicating hundreds of millions of taxpayer dollars to move an artifact that is already housed, displayed, and preserved in a world-class facility is both inefficient and unjustifiable,' the senators wrote.

Then there are the logistical challenges with relocating Discovery, which could result in damaging it, 'permanently diminishing its historical and cultural value for future generations.' 'Moving Discovery by barge or road would be far more complex [than previous shuttle moves], exposing it to saltwater, weather, and collision risks across a journey several times longer,' the letter reads. 'As a one-of-a-kind artifact that has already endured the stresses of spaceflight, Discovery is uniquely vulnerable to these hazards. The heat tiles that enabled repeated shuttle missions become more fragile with age, and they are irreplaceable.' Kelly, who previously lived in Houston when he was part of the space program, agrees that the city is central to NASA's human spaceflight efforts, but, along with Warner, Kaine, and Durbin, points out that displaying Discovery would come with another cost: an admission fee, limiting public access to the shuttle. 'The Smithsonian is unique among museums for providing visitors with access to a national treasure meant to inspire the American public without placing economic barriers,' wrote the senators.

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