U.S. Senator John Cornyn (R-TX) has announced that a retired NASA space shuttle will be relocated to a non-profit organization near the Johnson Space Center (JSC) in Houston. The move comes after NASA Acting Administrator Sean Duffy approved the transfer, following efforts led by Senator Cornyn and legislation signed into law by President Trump as part of the One Big Beautiful Bill Act.
“Since the inception of our nation’s human space exploration program, Houston has been at the center of our most historic achievements, from training the best and brightest to voyage into the great unknown to putting the first man on the moon,” said Sen. Cornyn. “There is no better place for one of NASA’s space shuttles to be displayed than Space City, and I thank Acting Administrator Duffy for rectifying the Obama Administration’s error and look forward to welcoming this iconic orbiter to its rightful home.”
The new law required consideration for moving a NASA Space Shuttle to a facility adjacent to JSC in Houston. Under its terms, an entity near Johnson Space Center can select a shuttle with agreement from the NASA Administrator. The intent is specifically aimed at relocating Space Shuttle Discovery.
NASA’s Johnson Space Center served as Mission Control for all space shuttle flights during their operational years, with astronauts living and training in Houston. When four shuttles were retired in 2011, Congress had directed that they be given to states with strong historical ties to shuttle operations or contributions to human space flight. However, one was awarded to New York City—a location without a NASA center—while Houston did not receive one at that time.
Senator Cornyn’s legislative provision now authorizes moving a shuttle closer to JSC in Houston.
John Cornyn has represented Texas in the U.S. Senate since 2002, winning several general elections over his career: defeating Ron Kirk in 2002 with 55% of votes; Rick Noriega in 2008 with 54.8%; David Alameel in 2014 with 61.6%; and MJ Hegar in 2020 with 53.5%.
