Houston-area lawmakers threaten legislative action blocking NY from receiving retired shuttle

Houston Chroncle - Texas on the Potomac ^ | April 14, 2011 11:00 AM | Stewart Powell

[TexasCajun]

Disappointed Texans in Congress are threatening legislative action to block NASA's planned transfer of a retired shuttle orbiter from Florida's Kennedy Space Center to a riverside museum in New York City.

The 16 lawmakers, led by Reps. Ted Poe, R-Humble, and Pete Olson, R-Sugar Land, want NASA to award a retired shuttle to Houston's Johnson Space Center.

The lawmakers — 15 Republicans joined by Houston Democrat Gene Green — issued their threat in a letter to NASA administrator Charles Bolden.

The Texas Republicans acted in the wake of Bolden's decision on Tuesday to allocate four retired shuttle orbiters for public display at locations other than Houston — home of NASA's mission control and home of the astronaut corps

[TexasCajun]

"If there is no rational explanation based on definable factors for the choice of the Intrepid museum in New York City, and that the transfer of the Enterprise to that location will cost significantly more than a transfer to the Johnson Space Center in Houston, we will do everything in our power in Congress, including legislation to prevent funding of the transfer, to stop this wasteful decision," the lawmakers warned

[TexasCajun]

Our calls and outrage made a difference.

Thanks Pete Olson all the others.

MIA - Queen Sheila

[buccaneer81]

I wish my Ohio delegation would do the same.

[The Magical Mischief Tour]

How about some legislation blocking Osama and COngress from bankrupting this country?

Priorities, I know... they have none...

[TexasCajun]

More:

WASHINGTON, DC – Rep. Pete Olson (R-Sugar Land) today (Tuesday, April 12) expressed disappointment at the announcement by NASA Administrator Charles Bolden that Houston was not selected as a permanent home to one of the retiring shuttle orbiters.

"Disappointment doesn't begin to describe my reaction to this announcement. Houston has been a critical component of every aspect of the shuttle program. Every astronaut that has flown in a shuttle has called Houston home,” Olson said. “The men and women who launch and land every shuttle flight have earned the right to call one of the retired orbiters home. This oversight smacks of a political gesture in an agency that has always served above politics. Having said that, Houston and the amazing people who work at the Johnson Space Center have always risen to every challenge presented to them and this is no exception. "While Houston deserves the honor of a shuttle orbiter, the bigger priority is ensuring a strong human space flight program centered at Johnson Space Center. I remain committed to providing NASA with a strong human space flight program. This is an issue near and dear to my heart. We were successful last year in gutting President Obama's plans to kill Constellation and NASA's role in human space exploration and we will continue to fight for Congress to provide a clear mission that is fully funded allowing American exceptionalism to flourish through the hard work of everyone at the Johnson Space Center and NASA."

[oh8eleven]

If there is no rational explanation based on definable factors for the choice of the Intrepid museum in New York City
It's all about tourists and taking their money.
My guess is there's more homeless people in NYC than tourists at the Johnson Space Center.

[who_would_fardels_bear]

"I wish my Ohio delegation would do the same."

Instead of spending precious tax dollars on this, the shuttle should have been sent to the highest private bidder so that we could have made money on this deal.

Place a couple of minor restrictions on the bidders (i.e. must display to the public a specified minimum number of hours per week, area must have some non-trivial relationship to the space industry, etc.) and then give it to the people who want it the most.

[microgood]

I really do not think some bureaucrat in NASA should make that decision anyway. It should be up to Congress.

[TexasCajun]

Could use a little ping assist. -Thanks-

The fight is on for a Houston Shuttle to display at the Johnson Space Center.

...as well as the bigger picture budget & spending.

[buccaneer81]

You don’t sell off history like that. It belongs to the people and deserves to be accessed freely.

[McLynnan]

What a shocker, an Obama appointee gives Texas the shaft.

[beef]

What have people in NYC done for the space program? Write a poem about it? The shuttle should go to Houston and NYC should get something more reflective of their contribution. I think the “Subprime Crisis and Financial Collapse of 2008 Museum” would be more appropriate.

[Nachum]

This is national news...

The list, ping

Let me know if you would like to be on or off the ping list

http://www.nachumlist.com/

[stranger and pilgrim]

I don’t understand why the Smithsonian is getting another one. They already have one at the Udvar Hazy museum out at Dulles. I can’t imagine they have room for a shuttle at the Mall Air and Space Museum.

[buccaneer81]

They already have Enterprise. It is going to NYC, and Discovery is going to Udvar-Hazy.

[Rebelbase]

“My guess is there’s more homeless people in NYC than tourists at the Johnson Space Center.”

How many homeless people can sleep in the space shuttle?

[buccaneer81]

My guess is there's more homeless people in NYC than tourists at the Johnson Space Center.

It should be going to Dayton. Dayton is a ten hour or less drive for 60% of the US population.

[ThomasThomas]

Houston has always a Mission Control site. They should have cameras set up to watch the other sites from Huston.

[ThomasThomas]

Houston has always a Mission Control site. They should have cameras set up to watch the other sites from Huston.

[workerbee]

Too bad Udvar doesn’t let you get inside.