WASHINGTON — NASA has begun exploring the possible relocation of the historic space shuttle Space Shuttle Discovery from the Smithsonian Institution in Virginia to Space Center Houston.
The agency is currently seeking feedback from stakeholders and industry experts on a draft proposal for contract bids to move the spacecraft. Officials emphasized that the document is not yet final and is being reviewed to refine details before a formal request for proposals is issued.
While the draft does not explicitly name Discovery, it is widely understood to refer to the shuttle. The potential move follows funding approved by Congress in 2025 under the “One Big Beautiful Bill Act,” which supports relocating Discovery to the nonprofit museum near Johnson Space Center.
If approved, the relocation would bring one of NASA’s most historic orbiters to Houston, a key hub for U.S. human spaceflight.
