"The Space Shuttle Discovery (OV-103) would need to be cut into pieces if a planned move to the Johnson Space Center in Texas goes forward, warned the Smithsonian Institution in a letter to congressional leaders this week. The letter was a response to a request from the White House's Office of Management and Budget for NASA and the Smithsonian to prepare to move the historic spacecraft to Texas within 18 months, and to determine the "actual costs" required to make it happen."
"The U.S. space agency and the famed institute have estimated it would cost at a minimum "between $120 and $150 million, exclusive of the cost of building a new exhibit in Houston." That is far higher than the $85 million budgeted for transportation and exhibition."
"Space Shuttle Discovery completed a total of 39 missions between 1984 and 2011, spending a combined 365 days in orbit. It hasn't quite gone to infinity and beyond, but moving it from its current home at the Smithsonian Institution's National Air and Space Museum's Udvar-Hazy Center in Virginia, to Space Center Houston could be more challenging than its trips to space."
The Smithsonian Institution warned that Space Shuttle Discovery would need to be cut into pieces if a planned relocation to Johnson Space Center proceeds. The warning responded to a request from the White House Office of Management and Budget for NASA and the Smithsonian to prepare the orbiter for a move to Texas within 18 months and to estimate "actual costs." NASA and the Smithsonian estimate relocation costs at a minimum between $120 and $150 million, exclusive of a new exhibit cost, which exceeds the $85 million currently budgeted. Discovery flew 39 missions from 1984 to 2011 and spent 365 days in orbit. Texas lawmakers back displaying Discovery at Mission Control in Houston.
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