Latest news with #SpaceCenterHouston
Gizmodo
a day ago
- Science
- Gizmodo
Ted Cruz's Bid to Reclaim Space Shuttle Discovery Could Cost $400 Million
At a time when money is too tight for NASA's science exploration endeavors, Texas senators are willing to pour millions into a risky process to relocate the Space Shuttle to Houston under the so-called One Big Beautiful Bill. President Donald Trump's tax and spending bill, which passed the Senate on Tuesday, includes a provision to move the Space Shuttle Discovery from the Smithsonian's Air and Space Museum in Virginia to Space Center Houston. The Bring the Space Shuttle Home Act was added to the Senate's version of the bill as part of an additional $10 billion in funding for NASA. The bill sets aside $85 million to relocate the Shuttle and build a facility in Houston to house it, but the Smithsonian argues it would cost somewhere between $300 and $400 million to move the massive spacecraft across the country, according to the Houston Business Journal. The Smithsonian also raised concern that the Shuttle could be damaged during the relocation process given the 'extremely complex and difficult' move. The Discovery Relocation Act was first introduced by Texas Senators Ted Cruz and John Cornyn in April, calling on NASA and the Smithsonian to develop a plan to relocate Discovery. It provided no less than $5 million to move the Shuttle to its new home, and the remaining $80 million will go toward building its new display facility at Space Center Houston. Space Center Houston is the official visitor center for NASA's Johnson Space Center, home to mission control for the Space Shuttle program. All launches took place at Kennedy Space Center in Florida, but more than 100 Shuttle missions were managed from Houston. Discovery made its inaugural flight on August 30, 1984, and completed a total of 39 missions over the span of 27 years. Discovery was the first Shuttle to return to flight after both the Challenger and Columbia disasters in 1988 and 2005, respectively, leading recovery missions that breathed new life into the iconic program. Discovery also launched the Hubble Space Telescope in 1990 and helped in the assembly of the International Space Station. For the past 13 years, Discovery has been on display at the Smithsonian. Three other Shuttles are also on display in different parts of the country; Enterprise is at the Intrepid Sea, Air & Space Museum in New York; Atlantis is at the Kennedy Space Center in Florida; and Endeavor is currently being set up for display at the Samuel Oschin Air and Space Center in Los Angeles. Considering its long history with spaceflight, Houston feels left out and wants a Shuttle of its own. After the Shuttle program ended in 2011, NASA selected the museums to display the retired spacecraft. NASA called on museums and science centers across the country to apply to host one of the Shuttles, and its selection criteria were based on national significance, ability to properly house the spacecraft, resources, and geographic distribution. Not everyone was happy, and the agency's process was highly scrutinized. At the time, 16 members of the Texas delegation wrote a letter to NASA Administrator Charles Bolden, referring to the selection process as the 'Houston Shuttle Snub.' However, NASA's Office of Inspector General (OIG) reviewed the agency's selection process and found no wrongdoing. 'We found no evidence that the White House, politics, or any other outside force improperly influenced the selection decision,' James Mitzelfeld, OIG investigative counsel, said in a video statement at the time. The Texans are still not happy, it seems. 'There's no question the Smithsonian is a national treasure, but it doesn't hold all the treasures that America has to show,' Cornyn said during a press conference on June 20, collectSPACE reported. 'It would be nice if there were more to go around, but since there are only four, we are going to get the one that we should have gotten back in 2010.'
The Independent
2 days ago
- Business
- The Independent
Space Shuttle is set to be moved out of Smithsonian and to Texas thanks to Trump's tax bill
A famous NASA space shuttle is set to be moved out of the Smithsonian and to Texas after House Republicans passed President Donald Trump's tax bill Thursday. The focal points of the so-called 'big, beautiful bill' have been an extension of Trump's 2017 tax cuts and cuts to the low-income healthcare program Medicaid. But there is a lesser-known provision sparking controversy. Once the bill is signed by Trump, $85 million will be allocated to transport the Discovery space shuttle from the Smithsonian's Air and Space Museum to Space Center Houston. The shuttle was part of NASA's Space Shuttle program, which ran from 1981 to 2011. The provision was criticized by the Smithsonian and others because of the cost and potential for damage of moving the space shuttle. In a new report by The Washington Post, the Smithsonian estimated it will actually cost more than $300 million to transport Discovery when accounting for costs such as constructing a new facility at Space Center Houston for the shuttle and creating an alternative museum display at the Smithsonian. Discovery would also be 'extremely complex and difficult' to transfer, the Smithsonian said, adding there is a 'significant' threat of damage to the shuttle. Garrett Reisman, a former astronaut who flew on the Discovery, also voiced his concerns about the transfer, calling it 'ludicrous and unnecessary.' 'I would much rather see that money invested in NASA's science program,' Reisman told the Post. Trump has proposed cutting back the science program calling its current $7 billion in spending 'unsustainable' in his 2026 budget request. 'If you're going to cut that and then cough up hundreds of millions of dollars into this for what is essentially a political mission — two senators who are concerned only about what's best for their state and not what's best for the country — I find that to be just a travesty,' Reisman said. Those two senators would be Ted Cruz and John Cornyn, both Texas Republicans who backed the provision. A spokesperson for Cornyn told the Post the Smithsonian's estimate for the cost to transfer the shuttle was 'purposefully overblown.' 'An outside vendor skilled at moving military equipment like tanks, military aircraft larger than a space shuttle, and the shuttle mock-up has estimated the total cost to be between $5-$8 million,' the spokesperson said. Cruz argued in a statement to the Post: 'Houston has long stood at the heart of America's human spaceflight program, and this legislation rightly honors that legacy.'
Washington Post
2 days ago
- Politics
- Washington Post
Trump's tax bill would send an iconic Smithsonian spacecraft to Texas
The Smithsonian's Air and Space Museum could lose the iconic Discovery space shuttle to Houston if a pair of Texas senators get their way. President Donald Trump's massive tax and immigration bill passed the Senate on Tuesday with language effectively ordering the shuttle's move to Texas. It would set aside $85 million to transport Discovery and construct a home for it at Space Center Houston, the official visitor center for NASA's Johnson Space Center — which itself oversaw more than 100 shuttle launches over two decades.
Business Journals
24-06-2025
- Science
- Business Journals
Space Center Houston CEO discusses new master plan as lawmakers tout bill to move shuttle
Space Center Houston's CEO discusses how a potential Space Shuttle Discovery exhibit would fit into the museum's evolving narrative and future plans. But the cost to move it to Houston is still a big question.
Yahoo
13-06-2025
- Science
- Yahoo
Witte Museum Launches Groundbreaking Statewide Initiative
100% TEKS Aligned Curriculum - Expeditions in Science - Now Available San Antonio, TX, June 13, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The Witte Museum proudly announces the launch of Texas Museums 360, a bold new initiative that transforms how Texas students engage with science. Designed to bring the trusted expertise and wonder of museums directly into the classroom, this groundbreaking program kicks off with Expeditions in Science, a 100% TEKS-aligned, inquiry-based digital science curriculum created by Texas museums for Texas classrooms. In partnership with Space Center Houston, the Witte Museum has developed a custom experience 'that supports hands-on, phenomena-driven learning for fourth and fifth grades. Students will be scientists as they explore real-world specimens, interact with scientists in the field, and investigate the world around them through authentic, museum-powered lessons. Each unit in the bilingual curriculum is carefully designed to align with TEKS and STAAR testing standards while sparking curiosity, critical thinking, and discovery. 'Texas Museums 360 is a visionary leap forward in how we connect students to real science,' said Dr. Michelle Cuellar Everidge, CEO and President of the Witte Museum. 'At the Witte, we've always believed that learning should inspire wonder. With this initiative, we're ensuring that every child across Texas has access to the kind of engaging, hands-on science education that builds not just knowledge, but confidence and curiosity. We are proud to lead the way.' Early Adopters: Voyager SchoolsTexas Museums 360 is currently onboarding its first cohort of Voyager Schools—a group of pioneering educators and districts who will be the first to implement Expeditions in Science. These schools receive exclusive early adopter benefits, including price protection, direct access to curriculum developers, discounted hands-on activity kits, and even free field trips to the Witte Museum. They will help shape future iterations of the program while leading the charge in transforming how science is taught statewide. All participating schools will benefit from robust professional learning, including early training sessions and ongoing support throughout the academic year. The program positions educators as collaborators—engaging them in a network with their colleagues, empowering them with tools, content, and direct access to museum educators and subject matter experts. About Texas Museums 360Texas Museums 360 is a consortium led by the Witte Museum and Space Center Houston, bringing together more than 125 years of combined experience in science education. The initiative was built to grow—with plans to expand beyond science into history, culture, and arts education through museum-based, interdisciplinary digital curricula. Join the JourneyEducators, school leaders, and science coordinators are invited to schedule a demo and explore how Expeditions in Science can transform learning in their classrooms. For more information or to sign up, contact:emailhttp:// ### About the Witte Museum: Founded in 1926, the Witte Museum inspires people to shape the future of Texas through transformative and relevant experiences in nature, science and culture. Located on the banks of the San Antonio River in Brackenridge Park, the Witte is consistently voted San Antonio's top museum. Here, visitors of all ages journey through Texas Deep Time, uncovering untold stories of the people and forces that shaped Texas across millions of years to the present day. For more information, visit About Space Center Houston: Space Center Houston's shared purpose is to bring people and space closer together. Over 1.3 million visitors and more than 250,000 students and educators visit each year to connect with the significance of space exploration to pursue a path in STEM or follow along as incredible feats of human spaceflight continue to make new discoveries. Space Center Houston is owned by the Manned Space Flight Education 501(c)3 nonprofit organization and generates an annual $118M economic impact to the Greater Houston area. Space Center Houston is a Smithsonian Affiliate, the Official Visitor Center of NASA Johnson Space Center and a Certified Autism Center. Learn more at CONTACT: Katye Brought Witte Museum 210-790-6013 katyebrought@
