NASA chooses museums for their retired Space Shuttles
Posted By RichC on April 12, 2011
NASA Administrator Charles F. Bolden Jr.’s announced the locations for the three operating shuttles and one gliding prototype on Tuesday afternoon:
- Kennedy Space Center’s Visitor Complex in Florida – Atlantis
- California Science Center in Los Angeles – Endeavour
- Smithsonian Institution’s National Air and Space Museum in Washington, D.C., — Discovery
- Intrepid Sea, Air and Space Museum in New York City — Enterprise
Disappointment? Yes. Many thought the National Museum of the US Air Force in Dayton Ohio was one of the best locations to retire a space shuttle. But, with only three orbiters (and a gliding prototype) and many good locations, I’m sure NASA had a difficult choice. It still would have been nice to include a location in the heartland with free parking and free admission … and from my point of view, the National Museum of the US Air Force in Dayton Ohio with 1.3 million visitors annually would have been better than in NYC for the Enterprise.
- In my disappointment, I’ve done a geekish thing and tweaked the Space Shuttle Discovery’s March 2011 landing (see photo above); I’ve included the guy who authorized $5.5 million for this “low cost” space shuttle program — January 5, 1972. Any guesses?
Comments