Houston Snubbed-No Space Shuttle

Although this happened a couple of weeks ago, I wondered how you guys felt about it.



'Houston, We've Had a Problem': No Space Shuttle for Museum in Astronauts' Home Town


The space agency giveth, and the space agency taketh away. On Tuesday NASA announced the museums that would get its three surviving space shuttles -- Discovery will go to the Smithsonian outside Washington, Endeavour to the California Science Center in Los Angeles, and Atlantis will stay at the Kennedy Space Center in Florida.

New York City gets a consolation prize: Enterprise, the shuttle prototype built in the 1970s for early tests, will move from the Smithsonian to the Intrepid Sea, Air & Space Museum.

Conspicuous by its absence from the list was Houston -- the home base for America's astronaut corps. Gina Sunseri of our staff forwarded this note from several relatives of astronauts who died when Challenger and Columbia were lost.

"We are heartbroken to learn of the decision that the Space Shuttle will not be allowed to return home to Houston. Home is where the heart is, and Houston has served as the heart of the space shuttle program since its inception nearly four decades ago. All the astronauts lost were Houston's residents. We again share a collective loss as a result of the political decision to send the space shuttle elsewhere. We had prayed that the incredible sacrifices this community has endured would have allowed the shuttle's legacy to continue here. Although we disagree with this decision, we will persevere in our support of space exploration, just as we have done in the past."

The statement was signed by Evelyn Husband Thompson, whose husband Rick commanded Columbia in 2003; Jonathan Clark, husband of Columbia astronaut Laurel Clark; Sandy Anderson, wife of Columbia's payload commander, Michael Anderson; Lorna Onizuka, whose husband, Ellison, died on Challenger in 1986; and Cheryl McNair, wife of Challenger astronaut Ronald McNair.

 

Iteresting that 3 of the 4 states were 'blue' and the 4 in play for the democrats

 

I may be mistaken, but I was under the impression that Columbia was originally destined for Houston upon its retirement. If so then the Johnson Center lost the one not because of politics exactly, but due to the demise of that shuttle.

 

Well, there were some 21 cities/sites vying for the three shuttles! Why is it that Houston is the only making a big media splash by crying "foul play!" Not just that, but they want a Congressional investigation into why they didn't get a shuttle.

So let's look at who got them
1. Smithsonian - Obviously...
2. Cape Canaveral - where the shuttles were launched.
3. California Science Center in Los Angeles, CA, not far from where the shuttles were built.
and
4. The USS Intrepid Air & Space Museum in NYC will get the test orbiter USS Enterprise. While their are no "special" claims to the space shuttle, NYC is perhaps, the most visited city in the US, so there is the considerable possibility of generating a new base of NASA supporters, where none had been before.

All logical and understandable choices...IMHO, there is no need for a Congressional investigation into the matter.

I'd never thought I'd say this about any Texan, but what a bunch of "whiners".

 

brndirt1,

IIRC, that was just a rumor, since the Columbia had not yet been retired, nor had retirement plans been announced when she was destroyed.

Also, wasn't retirement of the space shuttle fleet only an announced AFTER the destruction of the Columbia? Had it not been for the destruction of the Columbia, the shuttle fleet would still be going strong, rather than making it's last flights.

 

The Shuttles should go up for sale to recover tax payer money. Yah, turn it over to the the private sector, let them figure a way to make space profitable.....isn't that what Houston ought to be saying? The free ride should be done with. Maybe Houston should have offered a "Bid" package and end the government welfare. Now Houston wants an investigation....it should be titled "why don't we get our fair welfare on the tax payer's dime?" Next time the government funds a program like this it should be done with only technology that will be likewise profitable in the private sector so that the machines produced have a continuing value. We get out of space and get nothing futuristic out of the shuttles, if we had stayed with rockets at least we wouldn't have to hire a ride from the Russians. I guess we can be proud that we gained the ability to hire a ride. Meanwhile Houston says we don't like big government unless the proceeds and benefits find their way into our pocket. Yah take this one to the stump!

 

That is possible, a "rumor". But since the Columbia was the oldest one in service I wouldn't be surprised that it would have been the first one retired if it hadn't disintegrated over Texas. Challenger was the second oldest, and it too isn't around for "display" after retirement.

Challenger was built first but converted to an orbiter and flew after Columbia, but of course they were flying on "borrowed time". I seem to remember that they were supposed to be replaced in twenty years, and were forced to continue flying for another decade.

Sure could be wrong about the "rumor", but still with two less to divide between those who wished to have one, somebody was going to get the short end of the stick here.

 

Well, it seems to me that the "punish your enemies" philosophy of BHO is at play here.

 

Oh yes, I have heard of the X prize, but it cannot be pursued with limitless spending, for example Lindbergh crossed an ocean with a repeatable cost effective voyage to establish the new industry. We cannot have a beneficial program if the largest growth it has is in its expense, and it becomes so expensive we cannot continue it. It is in its own example its own reason for ending it. I do not want to end space exploration, I want to continue it with useful, affordable and repeatable parameters.

 

Seems to me that the planned retirement of the shuttles started under the Bush admin. back in 2005 so that more of the smaller budget could be directed toward other NASA projects.

The idea of phased Shuttle retirement is being promoted both by planners involved in the ongoing Exploration Systems Architecture Study and the Bush White House. Concern is mounting that delays in the operational status of an Earth-orbit version of the Crew Exploration Vehicle (CEV) and Congressional pressure to keep the Shuttles flying until the CEV is available might result in extension of the Shuttle retirement date beyond the fall of 2010.

Goto:

NASA and White House Discuss Early Shuttle Fleet Retirement | SpaceRef - Your Space Reference

Where the remaining three went after the 2005 cut-back isn't discussed on this page, but Challenger/Columbia were already gone.

 

One less. If the Challenger has not exploded, the Endeavour would most likely not have been constructed.

I don't see that as being an issue. NASA badly needs to find new activists supporters for their programs. They can't do that in Houston, where they already have a great number, they have to look elsewhere, say Los Angeleas and New York City.

It's not politics, but publicity...

 

As someone who lives 2 hours from JSC I still feel I got snubbed, so there!

 

That his Pettiness at work.... The child who would be emperor......

 

Here is something else.

"This was a very difficult decision, but one that was made with the American public in mind. In the end, these choices provide the greatest number of people with the best opportunity to share in the history and accomplishments of NASA's remarkable Space Shuttle Program," NASA Administrator Charles Bolden said in a statement. "These facilities we've chosen have a noteworthy legacy of preserving space artifacts and providing outstanding access to U.S. and international visitors."

More than two dozen museums and organizations were vying for the chance to display one of the shuttles.

… NASA isn't just handing over the shuttles free of charge. If you're an educational institution or museum interested in taking one of the shuttles off NASA's hands, it could set you back almost $30 million. A 2010 document about shuttle placement says that "the cost to complete display preparation for each Orbiter and ferry the Orbiter to its ultimate display location is updated to $28.8 million."

Goto:

http://www.reuters.com/article/2011/04/12/idUS201778+12-Apr-2011+PRN20110412

 

I resemble that remark sir! On a more serious note, yes the Smithonian should get one naturally, I can see Kennedy getting one as they launched there primarily. I can see sending one to the west coast as some launched from Vandenberg AFB for military ops and so that people living west of the Mississippi could have a chance to see one. My quibble is about NY City. By shuttle perhaps an hour from DC. So that one is close enough in my opinion. Now if the placed it at Write-Patterson or say Chicago so that people in the mid-west could see one easily I would stifle my pettyness....a little. New York has no connection to the space program. While many astronaughts, their family's and desendents live in the Houston metro area. NYC does not need another tourist attraction, especially since it looks like they never will build their 'Freedom Tower' or at least not in our lifetime.

 

...And so doesn't really need yet another trophy, wheras a shuttle in Houston would be a big draw.
If you can get to NYC then a drive to the Smithsonian isn't that far, but folks in Texas would have a dang long drive to see one.


Bad choice.
NYC has no strong connection to the shuttle, unlike Houston.
it should go to Texas

 

Clearly a wise man, and your payoff is in the mail, small denominations as you requested.