When Congress quietly approved $85 million to potentially relocate Space Shuttle Discovery from the Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum to Houston, it sparked a wave of concern among historians, curators, and the general public. We covered this matter HERE first and then HERE. The central question is straightforward yet profound: should one of America’s most historic and widely flown spacecraft be moved from the nation’s premier aerospace museum for political reasons? Preservation experts and advocates warn that moving Discovery could put at risk both a priceless artifact and the standards of how we protect our national heritage.
KeepTheShuttle is closely following developments in Congress regarding the shuttle’s proposed relocation. Bipartisan efforts, led by Senator Dick Durbin and Representative Joe Morelle, support keeping Discovery at the Smithsonian, while NASA has not yet identified which spacecraft could be relocated under the OBBBA mandate.
Joe Stief, founder of KeepTheShuttle, recently provided an update on the situation. A new development has emerged: Senator John Cornyn, along with Senators Ted Cruz and Representative Randy Weber, has requested that Attorney General Pam Bondi and the Department of Justice investigate the Smithsonian for potential violations of the Anti-Lobbying Act by its staff. Stief characterized this move as an attempt to intimidate the Smithsonian from defending its “right, title, and interest” in Discovery. Similar efforts were previously directed at Smithsonian Chancellor and Chief Justice John Roberts, though no action was taken at that time.
According to a recent letter from the Smithsonian to Congress, both NASA and the museum have highlighted two critical points: relocating Discovery would require disassembling the shuttle, and the estimated cost of such a move is between $120 million and $150 million—far exceeding the $85 million authorized (though not appropriated) by Congress. While proponents of the relocation have expressed dissatisfaction with these findings, no alternative relocation plan has been presented, aside from vague references to unspecified “industry experts” who allegedly disagree with NASA and the Smithsonian—organizations with direct experience designing, flying, transporting, and preserving the shuttle. Stief also emphasized that while he has personal ties to the museum and Discovery, KeepTheShuttle operates independently and has no formal connection with Smithsonian leadership. To learn more or to join the effort, visit KeepTheShuttle.org
