Two U.S. senators from Texas, John Cornyn and Ted Cruz, are pushing to have the Space Shuttle Discovery moved from its current location in Virginia to what they assert as its rightful place in Houston. As reported by KHOU, they framed this legislation as the "Bring the Space Shuttle Home Act," which seeks to authorize this notable transfer to the vicinity of NASA's Johnson Space Center.
"I am proud to lead the effort to finally bring Discovery home to Houston, where future generations of Texans and Americans can come to learn about the city's integral role in our nation's space shuttle program," Cornyn said, as mentioned by KHOU. The bill has also garnered backing from Texas Gov. Greg Abbott, who is looking to cement Houston's historic connection to spaceflight. "The first word spoken from the moon was 'Houston,'" Abbott told KHOU, reinforcing the sentiment that the city merits this acknowledgment.
The backstory here is not without controversy. When NASA ended its shuttle program, it initiated a sort of bidding process to decide where retired shuttles would reside. Houston was conspicuously left out, despite its deep ties to the shuttle program and its grievance over the choice is firmly rooted. "Houston played a critical role throughout the life of the space shuttle program, but it is clear political favors trumped common sense and fairness when the Obama administration blocked the Space City from receiving the recognition it deserves," argued Senator Cornyn in a statement to the Houston Chronicle. The city's frustration stems from an expectation that one of the shuttles would feature at Johnson Space Center. Instead, the shuttles were distributed across the country, largely to venues anticipated to draw larger foot traffic.
However, the "Bring the Space Shuttle Home Act" could reset to shift the Discovery shuttle to Houston. This course of action is being framed as a move to right past oversights and afford Houstonians the chance to engage with a tangible piece of their spacefaring heritage. "It's long overdue for a retired NASA space shuttle to rest at Houston's Johnson Space Center so Texans can see, learn from, and enjoy it for generations," stated Gov. Greg Abbott, according to the Houston Chronicle. This new bill, therefore, taps into a rich vein of local pride and historical significance, potentially offering Houston a chance to showcase a significant emblem of its contributions to space exploration.
It should be noted that the Space Shuttle Discovery is particularly accomplished, with 39 missions under its belt. Not least of these was its role in both the launching of the Hubble Space Telescope and aiding in the assembly of the International Space Station. If the senators' plans come to fruition, Houston could soon play host to this esteemed vessel, allowing the public to truly understand why Houston is known worldwide as 'Space City.' This sentiment was echoed by Senator Cruz who said, "Bringing the Discovery to its final home will offer hundreds of thousands of visitors each year the opportunity to engage with a living piece of NASA's history," as gleaned from a statement in the Houston Chronicle.
