Warner, Kaine, Colleagues Urge Appropriators to Block Costly, Risky Relocation of Space Shuttle Discovery from Virginia to Texas

WASHINGTON - This week, U.S. Sens. Mark R. Warner and Tim Kaine (both D-VA), alongside U.S. Sens. Mark Kelly (D-AZ) and Dick Durbin (D-IL), called on Senate appropriators to block any federal funding from being used to relocate Space Shuttle Discovery from its home at the Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Center of the Smithsonian Institution's National Air and Space Museum in Virginia to Space Center Houston in Texas. In a letter, the senators warned that such a move would waste taxpayer dollars, risk permanent damage to the shuttle, and mean fewer visitors would be able to visit it.

The senators noted that transporting Discovery could cost more than $375 million in taxpayer money, far exceeding available appropriations, writing: "The Smithsonian estimates that transporting Discovery from Virginia to Houston could cost more than $50 million, with another $325 million needed for planning, exhibit reconstruction, and new facilities. These costs far exceed the $85 million appropriated in the One Big Beautiful Bill Act. Dedicating hundreds of millions of taxpayer dollars to move an artifact that is already housed, displayed, and preserved in a world-class facility is both inefficient and unjustifiable."

They also warned that moving the shuttle would expose it to significant risk, citing past incidents when other shuttles were damaged during transport. The senators wrote, "Moving Discovery by barge or road would be far more complex, exposing it to saltwater, weather, and collision risks across a journey several times longer. As a one-of-a-kind artifact that has already endured the stresses of spaceflight, Discovery is uniquely vulnerable to these hazards. The heat tiles that enabled repeated shuttle missions become more fragile with age, and they are irreplaceable. Moving the shuttle would inevitably and irreparably compromise the artifact and render it unusable as a museum-quality collection item, permanently diminishing its historical and cultural value for future generations."

The letter also highlighted the importance of maintaining broad public access to Discovery at the Udvar-Hazy Center, where millions of visitors each year including students and veterans can view it for free: "From a public access standpoint, the Udvar-Hazy Center, located in the Washington, D.C. region, offers free public admission and draws millions of visitors annually, including students, veterans, and international tourists. The Smithsonian provides Discovery with professional stewardship and global visibility. The Smithsonian is unique among museums for providing access without placing economic barriers on visitors to a national treasure meant to inspire the American public."

Read the full letter here.