Houston might face a setback regarding plans by Texas senators to bring a NASA space shuttle to the state. NASA’s new administrator, Jared Isaacman, stated that a contentious proposal to relocate the space shuttle Discovery from the Smithsonian Air and Space Museum in Virginia may lead to a different spacecraft landing in Houston instead.
“My predecessor has already selected a vehicle,” Isaacman mentioned, referring to Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy, who acted as NASA’s chief before him. In a CNBC interview on December 27, he indicated that his priority is to ensure they stay within budget while also ensuring the safety of the spacecraft. Isaacman officially took the reins at NASA on December 18.
The initiative to transfer Discovery, NASA’s most-flown orbiter, to Houston was originally proposed by Texas Senators Ted Cruz and John Cornyn. They included this move in the One Big Beautiful Bill, which President Donald Trump signed into law last summer. Cruz and Cornyn argue that Houston, home to NASA’s Johnson Space Center, deserves to have its own iconic human spaceflight vehicle on display. Discovery has completed 39 space missions between 1984 and 2011, the year NASA ended the shuttle program.
However, there are significant hurdles to this relocation. NASA transferred ownership of the shuttle to the Smithsonian in 2012, meaning the government would need to negotiate the shuttle’s return before any move can take place.
The funding aspect also raises concerns. While the One Big Beautiful Bill allocated $85 million for the shuttle’s move, critics argue this amount is insufficient compared to the estimated $150 million needed to safely transport the 100-ton orbiter and construct a suitable display facility. Officials at the Smithsonian’s Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Center, where Discovery is currently displayed, emphasize the high costs involved.
Additionally, there are logistical challenges in the actual movement of the shuttle. Discovery measures 122 feet long and has a wingspan of 78 feet. NASA transported it to the Udvar-Hazy Center atop a modified Boeing 747, which has since been retired. One of these 747s is now on display at Space Center Houston with a mock shuttle.
Smithsonian officials have suggested that to move Discovery, it might need to be partially disassembled, which could risk significant damage to the spacecraft.
With these factors in mind, Isaacman stated that ensuring the shuttle’s safety and evaluating the costs will influence NASA’s decision on whether to pursue the relocation. He noted that if relocating Discovery proves unfeasible, NASA has other missions in the pipeline, including crewed missions around the Moon with Artemis 2, scheduled for as early as February 2026, and plans for Artemis 3 to land on the Moon by 2028. Isaacman reassured, “One way or another, we’re going to make sure the Johnson Space Center gets their historic spacecraft right where it belongs.”
Original Source: https://www.space.com/space-exploration/nasa-chief-jared-isaacman-says-texas-may-get-a-moonship-not-space-shuttle-discovery
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Publish Date: 2025-12-31 23:04:00
