NASA nominee 'committed' to uprooting Shuttle Discovery for Houston trophy piece
- Reference: 1764698708
- News link: https://www.theregister.co.uk/2025/12/02/isaacman_discovery_relocation/
- Source link:
The [1]statement came following a meeting between Isaacman and Cornyn, in which the pair discussed NASA's role in keeping the US ahead of China, returning humans to the Moon, and "continuing to bolster NASA's Lyndon B. Johnson Space Center (JSC) in Houston, Texas, as the human space flight center of excellence and innovation."
Isaacman, the [2]off-again, on-again nominee for NASA administrator, should be confirmed in the role soon, unless the Commander in Chief changes his mind once again. Isaacman will be charged with implementing NASA's budget, which includes a provision to relocate the Space Shuttle Discovery from its current resting place at the Smithsonian in Virginia to near JSC in Houston.
[3]
[4]Trump's budget reconciliation law , the so-called One Big Beautiful Bill, does not explicitly mention Discovery, just a "space vehicle" that "has flown into space" and "carried astronauts." By that measure, even the Apollo 10 capsule currently on display in London's Science Museum could be a contender. However, Cornyn has his eyes firmly set on Space Shuttle Discovery, and Isaacman has committed to relocating the vehicle.
[5]How do you solve a problem like Discovery?
[6]Senators accuse Smithsonian of 'illegal lobbying' over Discovery squabbles
[7]Space Shuttle war of words takes off as senator blasts 'woke Smithsonian'
[8]Texas senators cry foul over Smithsonian's pricey Space Shuttle shuffle
The role of NASA administrator is unlikely to be enviable as the agency faces hard choices due to a constrained budget. The job is complicated further by the requirement to relocate Space Shuttle Discovery "in one piece" from Virginia to Texas for $85 million (including the construction of a facility to house the vehicle). As YouTuber and space enthusiast Scott Manley [9]put it : "I would not want the job of NASA administrator because I'd have to deal with boneheaded things like the stupid shuttle law."
The retired orbiter has been the subject of controversy over the last few months. On the one side are Cornyn and his supporters, who want Space Shuttle Discovery relocated to right a perceived historical wrong, and on the other are those who disagree and would prefer the veteran vehicle be left alone.
[10]
The cost has also been the subject of fierce debate. While Cornyn's team has insisted that $85 million should be plenty, NASA and the Smithsonian estimated that the move alone would cost between $120 million and $150 million and require some dismantling of the vehicle.
The war of words is set to continue for a while longer. With the relocation still present in the budget reconciliation package, Isaacman is set for an interesting first few months should he be confirmed as NASA administrator. ®
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[1] https://www.cornyn.senate.gov/news/cornyn-meets-with-nasa-administrator-nominee-jared-isaacman-2/
[2] https://www.theregister.com/2025/11/05/jared_isaacman_nasa_administrator_again/
[3] https://pubads.g.doubleclick.net/gampad/jump?co=1&iu=/6978/reg_onprem/publicsector&sz=300x50%7C300x100%7C300x250%7C300x251%7C300x252%7C300x600%7C300x601&tile=2&c=2aS9vk2jLUlrXFD3WcIQrgQAAAFY&t=ct%3Dns%26unitnum%3D2%26raptor%3Dcondor%26pos%3Dtop%26test%3D0
[4] https://www.congress.gov/bill/119th-congress/house-bill/1/text
[5] https://www.theregister.com/2025/10/24/how_do_you_solve_discovery_route/
[6] https://www.theregister.com/2025/10/23/discovery_doj_lobbying_letter_cornyn/
[7] https://www.theregister.com/2025/10/09/cornyn_smithsonian_shuttle_comments/
[8] https://www.theregister.com/2025/10/08/senators_smithsonian_discovery/
[9] https://x.com/DJSnM/status/1995675885215875295
[10] https://pubads.g.doubleclick.net/gampad/jump?co=1&iu=/6978/reg_onprem/publicsector&sz=300x50%7C300x100%7C300x250%7C300x251%7C300x252%7C300x600%7C300x601&tile=4&c=44aS9vk2jLUlrXFD3WcIQrgQAAAFY&t=ct%3Dns%26unitnum%3D4%26raptor%3Dfalcon%26pos%3Dmid%26test%3D0
[11] https://whitepapers.theregister.com/
Something about libs and winning, I gather.
WTF does it have to do with liberals and conservatives? Some people (you) need to get a life.
How to say you know jack about the current controversy regarding moving the shuttle without saying you know jack about the current controversy regarding moving the shuttle.
How difficult could it be for a force from Washington to sweep through the confederacy south, dragging a Shuttle and destroying everything in their path ?
We could call it Operation Sherman
ah, language
You can be committed to the undertaking and make sure that every check is made and every eventuallity is considered to get all the documentation needed to get the final cost. 'i'm sorry there just is not the budget for the proposed move'
He would say that, wouldn't he.
If Isaacman shows any reluctance to go along with this harebrained scheme, Cruz and Cornyn will torpedo his confirmation.
US space ambitions shrinking
From aiming to Mars to aiming to Houston...
Re: US space ambitions shrinking
Bruno Mars and Whitney Houston?
Back in the 70s it would have been Freddie Mercury and Chicago (Transit Authority)
$150M ?
One wonders what NASA could productively do with $150M.
I mean, I expect it wouldn't punch a ticket to Mars, nor even the moon, but surely there's a better purpose for that kind of money than shuttling a museum piece around the country.
Re: $150M ?
They could do science stuff, but these days in Medieval USA, that seems pointless
I guess if they snapped a wing and a wheel off and sent that it would be cheaper and everyone would be happy?
(Engineering Judgement of Solomon).
For the judgement of Solomon you'd have to split it in half. And this lot would probably accept that.
I suppose they could then display it as two sagittal sections, an accepted approach to museum display in biology.
snapped a wing
I don't suppose they could send the collected fragments of the Columbia instead? It matches the criteria of "space vehicle", "has flown into space", and "carried astronauts."
And at least it's already been pre-dissembled enabling easier transport. :-(
The easy solution
Transfer sovereignty of the few hundred square feet of land where Discovery currently is to Texas and the city of Houston. Job complete and probably a few million in change left over to spend on something useful.
Re: The easy solution
I don't think that the failed state that is the US does useful stuff any more.
Rubber bands
Its kept near an airfield right... so you get a couple of iron stakes buried at one end of the runway.. tie a shed load of rubber bands between the 2, then pull them all the way back to the other end of the runway, slot the shuttle in and release the rubber bands.... the shuttle will then take off and it can be flown all the way to Houston.
Or more slightly more sensible (booo) , use the civil service method of making sure it will take another 3-4 years to get all the approvals and paperwork done by which time the orange pumpkin will have left office and forgotten all about it.(come to think of it.. thats more than likely happened already)
Any volunteers to be Robert the Bruce to Red Cornyn?
A defining moment for the President
"We choose to move a Shuttle to Houston in this decade and do the other things, not because they are easy, but because they are stupid"
On a similar mote, might I suggest a presidential motorcade through Dallas ?
Unclear why they want to hide a shuttle where nobody will ever see it comparatively speaking.