It was 2011. NASA was shutting down the shuttle program, and suddenly, everyone wanted a piece of the history. Seriously, cities across America were practically brawling over who would get to keep the crown jewel of the fleet. The space shuttle discovery relocation vote wasn't just some boring bureaucratic tally; it was a high-stakes decision that left several major American cities feeling completely snubbed.
Discovery is the overachiever of the family. It flew 39 missions, deployed the Hubble Space Telescope, and carried John Glenn back into orbit. It’s the "high-mileage" orbiter that actually looks like it’s been through hell and back, which is exactly why it was the most coveted prize.
The Day the Decision Dropped
April 12, 2011. That was the day Charles Bolden, the NASA Administrator at the time, stood at Kennedy Space Center and broke hearts. He announced that Discovery would head to the Smithsonian’s Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Center in Virginia.
Honestly? Most people saw that one coming. The Smithsonian is basically the nation’s attic, and Discovery was always destined for the top shelf. But the real drama wasn't about Discovery—it was about where the other shuttles ended up and the process that led there. Houston, the city that literally calls itself "Space City," got nothing. No orbiter. Just some seats and maybe some hardware. People were livid.
The selection process was a complex mix of "can you take care of this thing?" and "how many people will actually see it?" NASA looked at 21 different museums and sites. They had a scoring system that included things like climate-controlled indoor space, the ability to transport the shuttle, and the museum's financial stability.
Why the Smithsonian Was a Lock
You can't really argue with the Smithsonian's claim. They already had Enterprise, the prototype that never actually went to space. Because Discovery was the most storied vehicle in the fleet, the Smithsonian had first dibs. It was a pre-ordained marriage.
The space shuttle discovery relocation vote was essentially a formality for the top spot, but it set off a chain reaction. Because Discovery went to Virginia, Enterprise had to move. It ended up at the Intrepid Sea, Air & Space Museum in New York City. This moved caused a massive stir because, well, New York isn't exactly a "space city" in the traditional sense.
The Houston Heartbreak and the Politics of "Space City"
If you want to talk about a snub, look at Texas. Johnson Space Center is where the astronauts live. It's where "Houston, we have a problem" was directed. Yet, when the music stopped, Houston didn't have a chair.
The local politicians went ballistic. Senator John Cornyn called it "unfathomable." The Texas delegation felt that the space shuttle discovery relocation vote and the subsequent assignments were a political "thank you" to other regions. NASA insisted it was about the numbers—specifically, the number of international tourists who would visit the Intrepid in NYC or the California Science Center in LA compared to Houston.
It basically came down to foot traffic. NASA wanted the orbiters where the most eyeballs would see them. New York and Los Angeles have massive tourism draws that, on paper, eclipsed the visitor numbers at Space Center Houston at the time.
The Logistics of Moving a Giant
Moving Discovery wasn't like hiring U-Haul. It involved the Shuttle Carrier Aircraft (SCA), a modified Boeing 747.
When Discovery took its final flight to Dulles International Airport in April 2012, it did a low-level flyover of Washington D.C. It was breathtaking. Thousands of people lined the National Mall. You’ve probably seen the photos—the white 747 with the black-and-white orbiter piggybacking on top, soaring past the Washington Monument.
- Discovery arrived at Dulles.
- It was towed to the Udvar-Hazy Center.
- It met Enterprise nose-to-nose in a "changing of the guard" ceremony.
- Enterprise was then prepped for its own flight to New York.
The cost was staggering. Museums had to cough up roughly $28 million just to cover the "display preparation" and transport costs. That’s a lot of bake sales.
What the "Vote" Really Revealed About NASA’s Future
Looking back, the space shuttle discovery relocation vote was the final nail in the coffin of the Shuttle era. It was a pivot point. By spreading the shuttles across the country—Virginia, Florida, California, and New York—NASA was trying to maintain national interest in an agency that no longer had its own way to get humans into space.
For a decade after Discovery was retired, we relied on Russian Soyuz rockets. The relocation was a PR move as much as a preservation move. It was about keeping the dream alive in the minds of kids in LA and NYC who might never visit Cape Canaveral.
There were technical requirements that many museums couldn't meet. You can't just stick a shuttle in a tent. The tiles are incredibly fragile. The air has to be filtered and the humidity controlled. Discovery still smells like "space"—a weird metallic, ozone scent that astronauts often describe. Preserving that environment is expensive.
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The Current State of the Fleet
Today, you can go see them. It's worth it.
- Discovery: Udvar-Hazy Center, Virginia. It looks "dirty," and that's on purpose. They didn't scrub the reentry soot off. It looks like a vehicle that has actually done work.
- Atlantis: Kennedy Space Center, Florida. It’s displayed "in flight" with the bay doors open. It’s arguably the most dramatic display.
- Endeavour: California Science Center, Los Angeles. They are currently building a massive vertical display so it looks like it's on the launchpad.
- Enterprise: Intrepid Museum, New York. The one that stayed home.
The space shuttle discovery relocation vote remains a sore spot for some, especially in the Midwest and Texas. Wright-Patterson Air Force Base in Ohio also felt they deserved an orbiter given their massive role in aviation history. They didn't get one either.
How to See Discovery Properly
If you're planning a trip to see the big one, don't just walk in and take a selfie.
First off, the Udvar-Hazy Center is huge. It’s a hangar, not a traditional museum building. Discovery sits at the back of the James S. McDonnell Space Hangar. Walk around the back of the tail. Look at the RCS (Reaction Control System) thruster ports on the nose. You can see the individual serial numbers on some of the silica tiles.
Each tile was hand-placed. Each one has a specific home on the fuselage. Seeing the "burn" marks on the belly of Discovery gives you a visceral sense of what it’s like to hit the atmosphere at 17,500 miles per hour.
Actionable Insights for Space Enthusiasts
If you're following the legacy of the shuttle relocation, here is what you should actually do:
Visit Udvar-Hazy on a weekday. Discovery is the star of the show, and the crowds on weekends are brutal. If you go on a Tuesday morning, you can often stand under the wing in total silence. It's spiritual.
Check the "Spot the Tiles" maps. You can find online databases that show exactly which tiles were replaced after which missions. It’s a fun way to connect a specific part of the machine to a specific moment in history, like the Return to Flight mission after the Columbia disaster.
Support your local space museum. Even if your city didn't win an orbiter, many received significant artifacts. The Museum of Flight in Seattle has the Full Fuselage Trainer—the actual plywood and plastic mockup astronauts used to learn where the switches were. In many ways, you can get "closer" to the experience there than you can at the Smithsonian because you can actually go inside the trainer.
Watch the flight logs. Before you go, look up STS-133. That was Discovery's final mission. Knowing the "last rites" of the vehicle makes seeing it in person much more impactful.
The relocation wasn't perfect. It was political, it was messy, and it left a lot of people feeling left out. But having Discovery in the national collection ensures that the 30-year history of the shuttle program isn't just a memory or a YouTube clip. It’s a physical, scorched, massive reality that anyone can visit.
Next Steps for Your Trip
- Verify Museum Hours: Check the Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum website for the most current hours for the Udvar-Hazy Center, as they can change based on staffing or special events.
- Book Parking: Parking at Udvar-Hazy costs money (usually around $15), though entry to the museum itself is free.
- Download the Map: Grab a digital map of the McDonnell Space Hangar so you can locate Discovery and the surrounding Mercury and Gemini capsules quickly.