NASA’s new administrator isn’t sure Space Shuttle Discovery is coming to Houston – Houston Public Media

Dane Penland/Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum

Days after being sworn in as the top of NASA, Jared Isaacman indicated uncertainty concerning the transfer of the Space Shuttle Discovery from Washington to Houston.

Congress allotted $85 million as a part of the “One Big Beautiful Bill” to maneuver Discovery from its present house within the Smithsonian to Space Center Houston, the nonprofit customer’s heart of NASA’s Johnson Space Center. In order to take action, the Smithsonian estimated it might want far more cash. The nationwide museum additionally warned that such a transfer might do irreparable harm to the house shuttle.

Speaking in late December throughout an interview on CNBC, Isaacman stated these elements might inhibit relocating the house shuttle.

“My job now is to make sure that we can undertake such a transportation within the budget dollars that we have available and of course most importantly ensuring the safety of the vehicle,” he stated. “And if we can’t do that, you know what, we’ve got spacecraft that are going around the moon with Artemis II, III, IV, and V. One way or another, we are going to make sure the Johnson Space Center gets their historic spacecraft right where it belongs.”

Though officers in each Washington and Houston are making ready for Discovery’s relocation, the allocation solely makes reference to a “space vehicle” being moved to Houston. Under the definition utilized by the federal authorities, meaning any car that flew in house and carried astronauts — a label that applies to extra than simply Discovery.

Texas’ two Republican senators, John Cornyn and Ted Cruz, have led the hassle to maneuver the house shuttle to Houston, which they referred to as its “rightful home.” Both voted to verify Isaacman to his place as the top of NASA.

Representatives for Cornyn and Cruz didn’t instantly return requests for remark Monday.

In a December post on X, Cornyn stated he supported Isaacman’s nomination, citing “his commitment to bringing Space Shuttle Discovery to [Space Center Houston] where it belongs.”