Space Shuttle Discovery relocation included in Trump’s budget bill

HOUSTON — Included in President Donald Trump’s budget bill passed by the U.S. Senate is a provision from Sen. John Cornyn to consider bringing the Space Shuttle Discovery to ‘its rightful home’ in Houston.

Cornyn’s office celebrated the bill’s passage with his provision on Tuesday.

“Houston has long been the cornerstone of our nation’s human space exploration program, and it’s long overdue for Space City to receive the recognition it deserves by bringing the Space Shuttle Discovery home,” Cornyn said. 

The shuttle is currently housed at the Smithsonian’s National Air and Space Museum’s Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Center in Virginia.

“Houston has long stood at the heart of America’s human spaceflight program, and this legislation rightly honors that legacy,” Sen. Ted Cruz said. “It ensures that any future transfer of a flown, crewed space vehicle will prioritize locations that have played a direct and vital role in our nation’s manned space program, making Houston, Texas, a leading candidate.”

Cornyn, joined by fellow dignitaries and space advocates, visited Space Center Houston last month to announce the legislative effort aimed at bringing Discovery back to where much of its legacy was forged.

“We are here because we want to bring the iconic shuttle Discovery back home,” Cornyn said during the event.

The legislation paves the way for relocating the retired orbiter from Virginia to Houston, placing it among the community that helped bring its missions to life.

Among the supporters of the move is retired NASA astronaut Tim Kopra, who flew on Discovery during his career.

“It’s very important,” Kopra told reporters. “There’s Johnson Space Center, but there’s also a whole community of companies here that support human spaceflight. Discovery is the icon of our space program—it really needs to be here.”

And the folks at Space Center Houston say they have plenty of room for it.