Texas Leaders Urge Smithsonian to Avoid Lobbying for Shuttle
▼ Summary
– Texas lawmakers are calling for an investigation into the Smithsonian’s alleged objections to relocating the retired space shuttle Discovery to Houston.
– Senator Cornyn and Representative Weber accused the Smithsonian of potentially violating the law by opposing legislation to transfer the shuttle.
– The dispute began in April when bills were introduced to move Discovery from Virginia to Texas, with the provision later included in a broader bill enacted in July.
– NASA’s acting administrator approved sending a shuttle to Houston, but the specific orbiter was not disclosed, leaving uncertainty between Discovery, Endeavour, or Atlantis.
– The Smithsonian maintains it has owned Discovery since 2012 and holds full rights to the orbiter.
Texas officials are escalating their push to relocate a retired space shuttle to Houston, now calling for scrutiny into the Smithsonian Institution’s reported opposition to the move. Senator John Cornyn and Representative Randy Weber have formally questioned whether Smithsonian staff overstepped legal boundaries by lobbying against legislation that would transfer the orbiter from Virginia to Texas.
The dispute traces back to April when Cornyn and Weber introduced identical bills in Congress aimed at moving Space Shuttle Discovery from the Smithsonian’s Udvar-Hazy Center to Space Center Houston, the official visitor hub for NASA’s Johnson Space Center. Provisions supporting the transfer were later included in broader legislation signed into law on July 4.
This week, acting NASA Administrator Sean Duffy reportedly approved sending a shuttle to Houston, though neither he nor Cornyn specified which one. With Endeavour housed in Los Angeles and Atlantis remaining in Florida, Discovery appears the most likely candidate. However, the Smithsonian maintains full ownership of the orbiter, a claim it has held since 2012.
In their letter to Smithsonian Chancellor John Roberts, the lawmakers cited concerns over alleged behind-the-scenes efforts to derail the transfer. They referenced reports of staff contacting congressional committees and media outlets to rally opposition, actions they argue may conflict with the institution’s legal obligations.
The Smithsonian has yet to publicly address these accusations but previously defended its stewardship of Discovery, emphasizing its role in preserving aerospace history. Meanwhile, Texas leaders continue framing the relocation as a rightful acknowledgment of Houston’s pivotal contributions to space exploration. The outcome could hinge on whether federal officials view the Smithsonian’s actions as advocacy or overreach.
(Source: Ars Technica)
