This bill directs the Smithsonian Institution to transfer the Discovery space shuttle to NASA’s Johnson Space Center in Houston, within 18 months of enactment. It requires a joint transfer plan from NASA and the Smithsonian, including an estimated timeline and cost, to be submitted to Congress within 90 days.
Not later than one year after the initial transfer, title to the shuttle would transfer to NASA. Once transferred, the shuttle must be publicly exhibited within five miles of JSC, with ongoing oversight by JSC until it passes to a designated nonprofit entity, which would then maintain the public exhibit near JSC.
The act also authorizes appropriations as needed to carry out these provisions.
The measure frames the move as a means to enhance access to a national science artifact and to align the shuttle’s display with NASA’s STEM education mission. It anticipates a transition of stewardship from Smithsonian to NASA and, eventually, to a nonprofit organization, drawing a direct link between public exhibition, education, and the use of a major national asset in a location adjacent to the agency that operates human spaceflight programs.
At a Glance
What It Does
Requires transferring the Discovery shuttle from Smithsonian’s Udvar-Hazy Center to NASA’s Johnson Space Center within 18 months, with a joint transfer plan due to Congress in 90 days. Title transfers to NASA within one year after the initial transfer, and the shuttle must be publicly exhibited near JSC.
Who It Affects
NASA and Smithsonian Institute operations, the Johnson Space Center’s public exhibition program, and a nonprofit entity designated by the Administrator, with broader impacts on the public’s access to a major national artifact.
Why It Matters
Centers public access to a flagship space artifact, strengthens ties between NASA and STEM education efforts, and redefines long-term stewardship by moving the shuttle closer to the agency that operationally runs human spaceflight while establishing a nonprofit path for ongoing display.
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What This Bill Actually Does
The bill forces a relocation of the Discovery shuttle from the Smithsonian to NASA’s Johnson Space Center in Houston. Within 18 months, NASA would take custody of the shuttle, following a plan developed jointly by NASA and Smithsonian that includes timelines and cost estimates and is submitted to Congress within 90 days.
A transfer of title to NASA would occur within one year after the move, and, once in NASA’s hands, the shuttle would be publicly exhibited within five miles of the Johnson Space Center. NASA would oversee the shuttle during this phase, until it is handed over to a nonprofit entity designated by the Administrator, which would assume responsibility for maintaining the exhibit near JSC.
The act authorizes funds as needed to accomplish these steps, in addition to existing appropriations, and allows for President-requested supplemental requirements if necessary. The overarching intention is to place a major national artifact in a context that fosters STEM education and public engagement, while creating a clear sequence of custody—from Smithsonian to NASA to a nonprofit—alongside a geographically proximate public display strategy.
The Five Things You Need to Know
The shuttle must be transferred from Smithsonian to NASA’s Johnson Space Center within 18 months of enactment.
NASA and Smithsonian must jointly develop a transfer plan with timeline and cost estimates and submit it to Congress within 90 days.
Title to the shuttle transfers to NASA within one year after the initial transfer.
Public exhibition is required within five miles of the Johnson Space Center, with NASA/JSC oversight until transfer to a nonprofit entity.
A designated nonprofit entity will eventually hold title and maintain the shuttle’s public exhibit near JSC, with appropriations authorized as needed.
Section-by-Section Breakdown
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Short title
This act may be cited as the “Bring the Space Shuttle Home Act.” It sets the naming and cross-reference framework for the transfer and display provisions that follow.
Transfer of Discovery shuttle to Johnson Space Center
Not later than 18 months after enactment, the Discovery shuttle shall be transferred from the Smithsonian Institution’s Udvar-Hazy Center to NASA’s Johnson Space Center in Houston, under the direction of the NASA Administrator. This establishes the primary custody transfer date and location.
Transfer plan
The Administrator and the Smithsonian shall jointly develop a plan to effect the transfer, including an estimated timeline and cost. Not later than 90 days after enactment, the plan must be submitted to Congress for review and potential action.
Transfer of title
Not later than one year after the shuttle is transferred under subsection (a), the Smithsonian Institution shall transfer title to the shuttle to NASA. This secures formal ownership with NASA beyond the initial move.
Public exhibition
On the transfer under subsection (a), the shuttle must be placed on public exhibit to advance STEM learning at a location not more than five miles from the Johnson Space Center. NASA’s Johnson Space Center shall oversee the shuttle during this transition period until it is transferred to a nonprofit entity.
Role of nonprofit entity
After title transfer under subsection (c), the Administrator shall transfer title to a nonprofit entity designated by the Administrator. The nonprofit must maintain the shuttle on public exhibition near the Johnson Space Center, ensuring ongoing public access and educational use.
Authorization of appropriations
There are authorized to be appropriated to the Administrator such sums as may be necessary to carry out this section. Funding is in addition to amounts authorized by other Acts and may be requested by the President as supplemental requirements in the appropriate fiscal years.
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Explore Science in Codify Search →Who Benefits and Who Bears the Cost
Every bill creates winners and losers. Here's who stands to gain and who bears the cost.
Who Benefits
- NASA/Johnson Space Center gains immediate custody and educational utility for the shuttle, enabling public programs and integration with STEM outreach.
- Smithsonian Institution is relieved of long‑term custody and maintenance burden, while recasting a major artifact into NASA’s care closer to active spaceflight operations.
- K‑12 students and educators—nationally and in the Houston area—benefit from access to a premier national artifact in a nearby exhibit.
- Local Houston-area residents and visitors gain a high-profile, science-focused exhibit within proximity to the Johnson Space Center.
- The designated nonprofit entity gains long-term stewardship responsibilities and a structured path to public engagement with the shuttle.
Who Bears the Cost
- Smithsonian Institution incurs relocation planning costs and the costs of transferring custody.
- NASA/Johnson Space Center bears the costs of receiving, relocating, and hosting the shuttle during the transition period.
- A designated nonprofit entity will incur ongoing costs to maintain and exhibit the shuttle near JSC.
- Taxpayers fund appropriations authorized to carry out the transfer and ongoing exhibit maintenance.
- Potential costs to maintain and insure the shuttle at the new site during the transition period and under the nonprofit’s stewardship.
Key Issues
The Core Tension
The central dilemma is whether to relocate a nationally symbolic artifact to be co-located with the agency that operated it, potentially enhancing education and relevance, while shifting long-term stewardship from Smithsonian to NASA and a future nonprofit, which could affect curatorial control, funding stability, and accountability.
The bill creates a staged transfer that moves a major artifact from Smithsonian stewardship to NASA’s management, then to a nonprofit entity. This sequence raises practical questions about funding, timelines, and long-term maintenance.
While the plan explicitly requires timelines and cost estimates, the real-world execution hinges on Congressional approval of the transfer plan and the availability of sufficient appropriations to cover ongoing exhibit costs and conservation needs, which can be significant for a historic spacecraft.
A core policy tension is the balance between centralized national stewardship (Smithsonian’s broad mandate and expertise in artifact preservation) and NASA’s spaceflight mission, which is better served by situating the artifact near the agency most closely connected to its origin. The act also relies on a designated nonprofit to sustain long-term public access, a step that introduces questions about governance, funding streams, and accountability for continued education efficacy and exhibit quality.
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