"The fact is that all four shuttles have moved across the country without disassembly on more than one occasion. The Smithsonian estimates are purposefully overblown, and 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, which includes transportation from the Smithsonian to a barge and a barge to Space Center Houston."
"The kerfuffle started earlier this month when NASA and the Smithsonian estimated it would cost between $120 million and $150 million to move the antique spacecraft from its current location in Virginia to a new spot in Houston, Texas, and the relocation would require chopping the shuttle into pieces. The move was sparked by the 2025 budget reconcilation bill, which included a line item of $85 million to relocate at least one craft that has flown astronauts to Houston,"
A dispute has arisen over relocating Space Shuttle Discovery to Houston after budget language allocated $85 million for moving at least one flown orbiter. NASA and the Smithsonian estimated $120–$150 million and said relocation would require cutting the shuttle into pieces. Texas lawmakers and their offices counter that prior shuttle moves occurred without disassembly and that outside vendors and a NASA transport estimate place costs far lower, between $5–$8 million or about $5 million for transport. The disagreement centers on differing transport methods, retired ferry aircraft, storage and disassembly expenses, and legacy precedent.
Read at Theregister
Unable to calculate read time
Collection
[
|
...
]