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3w ago

NASA Keeps Orbiter Choice Secret in Mandated Shuttle Transfer to Houston

A Smithsonian title claim coupled with a pending House amendment threatens to stall progress on the ordered relocation.

U.S. Congressman Randy Weber, left, and U.S. Sen. John Cornyn comment on the possibility of bringing a retired space shuttle to Space Center Houston during a panel discussion in Houston, Friday, June 20, 2025.
a side view of a space shuttle orbiter with its name digitally blurred out

Overview

  • On August 5, acting NASA Administrator Sean Duffy named a flown space shuttle for relocation to Space Center Houston but did not reveal which orbiter.
  • The One Big Beautiful Bill enacted in early July requires NASA to transfer a crewed orbiter to a non-profit near Johnson Space Center by January 2027.
  • Smithsonian Institution officials say they were not consulted and assert that Discovery has been held in trust since 2012 and cannot be moved without violating its title.
  • A Congressional Research Service analysis warns that NASA’s authority to reassign Smithsonian-owned vehicles is unclear, potentially disqualifying some orbiters.
  • Rep. Joe Morelle’s amendment to block funding for the relocation is slated for a House vote in September and experts estimate moving and exhibiting a shuttle could cost between $8 million and $300 million.