Texas Republicans aim to move Space Shuttle Discovery to Houston, but the funding estimated by Sen. Ted Cruz falls short of the required $300-$400 million.
HOUSTON — Texas Republicans want to bring Space Shuttle Discovery to town, but its current owners say Sen. Ted Cruz’s estimate to move the veteran spacecraft is way off.
The Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum confirmed to the Houston Business Journal that it provided a cost estimate of $300 million-$400 million to Congress this week as the Senate deliberates a massive spending package.
The figure would account for all costs necessary to move Space Shuttle Discovery from the Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Center near Washington, D.C., to Space Center Houston, where Cruz and Sen. John Cornyn argue it deserves to be exhibited.
Meanwhile, the Senate Commerce Committee — which Cruz chairs — has released draft language allotting $85 million in the latest version of the “One Big Beautiful Bill,” President Donald Trump’s reconciliation and spending package, for moving the shuttle. Of that, $5 million would go toward transportation costs, according to the bill text.
Continue reading this story on the Houston Business Journal’s website.
This story came to us through our partnership with the Houston Business Journal. Keep up with the latest Houston business headlines here.