The "Bring the Space Shuttle Home Act" mandates the transfer of the Discovery space shuttle to NASA's Johnson Space Center in Houston, Texas for public exhibition to promote STEM education.
John Cornyn
Senator
TX
The "Bring the Space Shuttle Home Act" mandates the transfer of the Discovery space shuttle to NASA's Johnson Space Center in Houston, Texas, within 18 months, to be displayed for public exhibition promoting STEM education. It requires NASA and the Smithsonian to create a transfer plan within 90 days and authorizes necessary funds for the transfer and ongoing exhibition. The title of the Discovery space shuttle will be transferred to NASA within one year after the physical transfer, with the possibility of later transfer to a nonprofit entity under specific conditions.
Space Shuttle Discovery Headed to Houston: Bill Orders Transfer for STEM Education Display Within 18 Months
This bill, titled the "Bring the Space Shuttle Home Act," sets a clear directive: move the retired space shuttle Discovery to NASA's Johnson Space Center in Houston, Texas. The transfer needs to happen within 18 months of the bill becoming law. To make this happen, NASA and the Smithsonian Institution are tasked with creating a joint plan within 90 days, outlining the timeline and, crucially, the estimated costs, which they must report to Congress.
Discovery's New Mission: Houston Display
The core purpose here is education. Once Discovery arrives in Houston, ownership officially transfers to NASA within a year. The legislation mandates that NASA must then put the shuttle on public display within five miles of the Johnson Space Center. The explicit goal? To promote STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math) education. Think interactive exhibits and inspiring the next generation of engineers and astronauts. The bill also allows NASA to eventually transfer ownership to a suitable nonprofit organization, but only if that group promises to keep displaying Discovery for the same educational purpose within that same five-mile radius.
Planning the Move: Logistics and Funding
Moving a space shuttle isn't like moving furniture. The required joint plan between NASA and the Smithsonian needs to detail exactly how this complex relocation will occur. While the bill authorizes the necessary funds to cover the transfer costs – separate from other NASA funding – it doesn't set a specific budget cap. This means Congress will need to appropriate the actual dollars based on the cost estimates provided in the plan. It acknowledges that moving an artifact of this size and historical significance requires dedicated resources.
Shifting Access: Who Sees the Shuttle?
For folks in and around Houston, this could be a big win, bringing a major piece of space history right to their doorstep and boosting local STEM initiatives. However, the bill doesn't mention where Discovery is currently located. Wherever that is, the local community and the institution currently housing it (presumably linked to the Smithsonian) will lose this major exhibit. The legislation focuses solely on the destination, mandating the move to Texas and centering the shuttle's future mission on STEM outreach near the Johnson Space Center.