Senator and former astronaut Mark Kelly, joined by three colleagues, urged appropriators to block the planned relocation of Space Shuttle Discovery from the Smithsonian’s Udvar‑Hazy Center to Space Center Houston, citing high costs, risks to the orbiter and “little evidence” of public demand.
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Briefing
Congress has earmarked $85 million to relocate Discovery, a decision that would reassign a high‑profile national artifact that has drawn roughly 25 million visitors at the Udvar‑Hazy Center since 2012. (See the $85 million appropriation: https://hype.aero/?story=a4f54d00-5bab-4824-8e06-799be9ccdab6)
The dispute frames legal, fiscal and preservation questions: NASA previously said it would send a retired orbiter to Houston but "kept orbiter choice under wraps," while Texas lawmakers continue to press measures to effect the transfer. (Context on NASA’s decision and congressional push: https://hype.aero/?story=8ff10c5e-ea90-458f-b4c3-4866b3862c76; https://hype.aero/?story=62589fdb-d015-4561-8194-3fd81573122f)
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• Robert Pearlman