Space Shuttle Discovery Stays at Smithsonian After All

America's most accomplished space shuttle just dodged a risky relocation that could have damaged it forever.

Space Shuttle Discovery, the workhorse of NASA's shuttle program, will remain on display at the Smithsonian's Udvar-Hazy Center in Virginia. After months of legislative maneuvering and $85 million authorized to move the orbiter to Houston, NASA Administrator Jared Isaacman pumped the brakes, citing safety concerns and ballooning costs.

Discovery's resume speaks for itself. Over 27 years, the orbiter completed 39 missions, spent a full year in space, and traveled nearly 150 million miles. It launched the Hubble Space Telescope, helped build the International Space Station, and carried 251 crew members including John Glenn on his historic return to orbit at age 77.

When NASA retired Discovery in 2011, the Smithsonian received full ownership. The orbiter arrived in Virginia intact aboard a modified Boeing 747 in April 2012, preserved exactly as it looked after its final mission.

Last year, Texas lawmakers pushed hard to bring Discovery to Houston, arguing that Mission Control and astronaut training happened there. President Trump signed legislation authorizing the move in July 2025, and political momentum seemed unstoppable.

Then reality intervened. NASA and the Smithsonian estimated the actual relocation cost at $120 million to $150 million, nearly double the authorized funding. Including a new building to house Discovery, total costs could hit $325 million.

The bigger problem? The two specially modified aircraft that once carried shuttles are now museum pieces themselves. Moving Discovery would require partial disassembly, permanently altering and potentially damaging this piece of American history.

Why This Inspires

Isaacman's decision shows that some things matter more than politics. A billionaire who commanded his own spaceflight mission before running NASA, he understands what Discovery represents to spaceflight history and the American public.

His commitment to protecting the orbiter's integrity puts preservation ahead of political pressure. Discovery flew astronauts through triumph and tragedy, serving as NASA's Return to Flight vehicle after both the Challenger and Columbia disasters.

Now millions of visitors can still see Discovery exactly as it flew, inspiring the next generation of explorers. The spacecraft that helped humanity reach for the stars will keep doing that job right where it stands.

Sometimes the bravest decision is choosing not to move forward when the risks outweigh the rewards.