A group of notable senators, including Arizona's former NASA astronaut Mark Kelly, has banded together to oppose federal funds being utilized for the relocation of the Space Shuttle Discovery. Kelly, along with Senators Mark Warner (D-VA), Tim Kaine (D-VA), and Dick Durbin (D-IL), has made a direct plea to Senate Appropriators to put a stop to the transfer of this iconic spacecraft from the Smithsonian Institution’s National Air and Space Museum's Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Center in Virginia to Space Center Houston in Texas. In a statement made by Kelly's official Senate website, the senators have outlined their concerns, essentially saying that the move would be a wasteful expenditure of taxpayer money, posing a significant risk to the shuttle while potentially reducing public access.
The proposed move, according to the senators, would not only potentially damage Discovery but also cost a staggering $375 million — a sum that dramatically overshadows the $85 million set aside by the One Big Beautiful Bill Act. "These costs far exceed the $85 million appropriated in the One Big Beautiful Bill Act," the lawmakers assert, as per the Senator's Office. They fear the complex process of moving Discovery by barge or road could serve to damage the shuttle significantly, as it is exposed to saltwater, weather, and collision risks over the long journey. The senators emphasize this point, suggesting that the fragility of the shuttle's irreplaceable heat tiles could lead to an irreversible compromise of its status as a museum-quality piece.
Further arguments against the relocation include the historical and cultural value Discovery holds. Already having borne the scars and stresses of spaceflight, the shuttle represents more than a mere artifact. It’s an invaluable educational resource, as suggested by the lawmakers. The letter to Senate Appropriators delves into the logistics and fiscal challenges, questioning the justification behind diverting such a substantial sum of taxpayer dollars for an artifact already housed in a facility recognized for its caliber on a global scale.
Moving Discovery from its current location would also impact public access, and the senators are keen to highlight the importance of keeping it at the Udvar-Hazy Center. The museum, which is advantageously positioned in the Washington, D.C. area, grants free admission and attracts millions, ranging from students to veterans and international visitors. "The Smithsonian provides Discovery with professional stewardship and global visibility," the Senator's Office stated. They highlight the Smithsonian's unique ability to offer access to a national treasure without the imposition of economic barriers on the American public, seemingly designed to inspire and educate the populace at large.
