Tension concerning space shuttle exhibition

Once the space shuttle programme is shutdown, Discovery, Atlantis and Endeavour are to be entrusted to American museums so that they can be exhibited to the public. Even though NASA has to be paid a little less than 30 million dollars in preparation costs and an exhibition hall that meets the strictest of standards provided, several American museums are in the running (see this article). And the competition is growing more intense! Apparently, Houston in Texas and Florida’s Kennedy Space Center want to be certain of having one example of a space shuttle that has flown in space (Discovery has already been assigned to the Air and Space Museum in Washington, DC). The NAHA, National Aviation Heritage Alliance, which unites several space and aeronautical museums, is condemning the fact that Florida and Texas are trying to get Congress to pass a bill that would give priority to sites with a historical link to launch and flight operations when the time comes to choose the museums in question. As far as the NAHA is concerned such conditions excessively limit the sites likely to be selected and would automatically disqualify others which are, nevertheless, linked to the American space shuttle programme.

The NAHA website

Press release from the NAHA

Published on 22 July 2010

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