Overview
- In a Dec. 23 CNBC interview, Administrator Jared Isaacman said Discovery’s relocation will proceed only if it can be done safely within available funds, and he floated sending an Orion capsule to Houston if not.
- Congress set aside $85 million in H.R. 1 for a “space vehicle transfer” of a flown, crewed spacecraft to a NASA center in the commercial crew program without naming Discovery or Johnson Space Center.
- NASA said on Aug. 5 that then–Acting Administrator Sean Duffy had selected the vehicle for transfer, but the agency did not disclose which spacecraft was chosen.
- The Smithsonian, which owns Discovery, told Congress that moving the orbiter would require significant disassembly and could cost $120 million to $150 million, excluding a new display facility.
- Texas Senators John Cornyn and Ted Cruz dispute those costs and accused the Smithsonian of improper lobbying, while analysts note an Orion capsule would be simpler to truck and cheaper to house.