NASA and the Smithsonian estimate the costs associated with transferring the space shuttle Discovery to Houston at around $305 million, excluding an additional $178 million for a new facility. Questions arise regarding Congress’s authority to remove the shuttle from the Smithsonian's collection, which legally owns the artifact. Senator Durbin criticized the financial implications of the transfer, while proposing an amendment to halt the transfer funding. Durbin noted that no prior instance exists where a Smithsonian exhibit was forcibly removed, raising concerns about ownership and rights.v
This will be the first time ever in the history of the Smithsonian someone has taken one of their displays and forcibly taken possession of it. What are we doing here? They don't have the right in Texas to claim this.
Durbin said that the total was closer to $305 million and that did not include the estimated $178 million needed to build a facility to house and display Discovery once in Houston.
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