The Space Shuttle Discovery flew 39 missions between 1984 and 2011, spending 365 days in space and traveling nearly 150 million miles, more than any other spacecraft.
Jack Gruber, USA TODAY
Discovery also launched the Hubble Space Telescope in 1990 and helped assemble the International Space Station, which has orbited about 250 miles above Earth for more than two decades.
Jack Gruber, USA TODAY
Discovery also launched the Hubble Space Telescope in 1990 and helped assemble the International Space Station, which has orbited about 250 miles above Earth for more than two decades.
Jack Gruber, USA TODAY
All Discovery launches took place at the Kennedy Space Center in Cape Canaveral, Florida.
Jack Gruber, USA TODAY
Since 2012, Discovery has been on display at the National Air and Space Museum at the Smithsonian Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Center in Virginia. Three other shuttles are also on display in the United States: Enterprise at the Intrepid Sea, Air & Space Museum in New York; Atlantis at the Kennedy Space Center in Florida; Endeavor at the Samuel Oschin Air and Space Center in Los Angeles.
Jack Gruber, USA TODAY
A provision of the budget reconciliation bill, HR 1, passed by Congress and signed into law in July 2025, included $85 million for a “space vehicle transfer.” This provision was interpreted by many as seeking to move Discovery from the National Air and Space Museum’s Udvar-Hazy Center to Space Center Houston.
Jack Gruber, USA TODAY
Trump’s legislative package, which he signed into law on Independence Day, includes a provision that allocates $85 million to move Discovery from Virginia to Texas.
Jack Gruber, USA TODAY
The spacecraft’s new home is now expected to be at Space Center Houston, the official home of NASA’s Johnson Space Center in Houston.
Jack Gruber, USA TODAY
The center already houses a replica of the space shuttle Independence, formerly known as the Explorer, which visitors can enter.
Jack Gruber, USA TODAY
Texas Republican Senators Ted Cruz and John Cornyn were the first to introduce an effort to move Discovery in April with their “Bring the Space Shuttle Home Act.” A decision that worries the Smithsonian and other organizations due to possible irreparable damage to the orbiter and its loss from the national collection as well as the cost associated with a move.
Jack Gruber, USA TODAY
The legislation provides “not less than $5 million” to move the shuttle to its new home, with the remaining $80 million earmarked for construction of a new facility to house and display the vehicle.
Jack Gruber, USA TODAY
However, the Smithsonian’s estimate to Congress was that it would cost between $300 million and $400 million taxpayer dollars to move Discovery across the country.
Jack Gruber, USA TODAY
The law also sets January 4, 2027 as the deadline for the space shuttle transport to be completed.
Jack Gruber, USA TODAY
Texas lawmakers have long believed that because Houston is home to the Mission Control Center for NASA’s Space Shuttle program, the region deserves to be recognized with its own space shuttle on display.
Jack Gruber, USA TODAY
Cornyn called the arrangement to bring Discovery to Texas “long overdue” in a statement. “Houston has long been a cornerstone of our nation’s human space exploration program,” Cornyn said in the release. “I am pleased to see this passage as part of the Senate’s One Big Beautiful bill and look forward to welcoming Discovery to Houston and righting this egregious wrong.”
Jack Gruber, USA TODAY
In a separate statement, Cruz said the legislation honored Houston’s legacy as “the heart of America’s human spaceflight program.” “Bringing such a historic space vehicle to the region would highlight the city’s indispensable contributions to our space missions, highlight the strength of America’s commercial space partnerships, and inspire future generations of engineers, scientists and pioneers who will carry our legacy of American leadership in space,” Cruz said.
Jack Gruber, USA TODAY
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