“Okay, Houston, We’ve Had a Problem Here” – John L. “Jack” Swigert, Jr. (Apollo XIII)

Washington, DC–Yesterday, Congressman Jason Chaffetz (R-UT) introduced HR 1536, the “Space Shuttle Retirement Act.” The bill would establish sites in Texas, Florida, California, and Virginia (Smithsonian Museum) as the final homes of retiring NASA Space Shuttles. Original bipartisan cosponsors of the legislation include Representatives Bill Posey (R-FL), Sheila Jackson Lee (D-TX), Ken Calvert (R-CA), Gene Green (D-TX), Sandy Adams (R-FL), Pete Olson (R-TX), Al Green (D-TX), Rich Nugent (R-FL), and Ted Poe (R-TX).

NASA was created by Congress in 1958. This federal agency remains under the purview of Congress. Congress has an obligation to determine the retirement location of NASA shuttles, as these American icons are owned by taxpayers.

“After hearing many of my colleagues in Congress cry out: ‘Earth to NASA,’ I am seeking to restore common sense and fairness to the Space Shuttle retirement home debate,” said Congressman Chaffetz. “Instead of relying on political guidance systems, these decisions must be steered by history and logic. My legislation would designate the retirement home of the three Space Shuttles based on the location and history of the Shuttles’ launches, landings, and mission support, the fourth based on the Smithsonian’s role in preserving American artifacts.”

The bill designates the homes of NASA’s retiring Space Shuttles as follows:

. Johnson Space Center in Houston, Texas: Shuttle Endeavor
. The Smithsonian’s National Air and Space Museum Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Center, Virginia: Shuttle Discovery
. The California Science Center in Los Angeles, California: Shuttle Enterprise
. The Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex, Florida: Shuttle Atlantis

On April 12, 2011, NASA announced the names of the four institutions where the retired space shuttle orbiters would be placed on permanent display. Despite the critical role that Texas has played in the space program, it was overlooked by NASA as a final home for one of the four orbiters. The decision to place a fourth orbiter in New York was widely panned. This bill corrects the Administration’s omission.