The historic space shuttle Discovery, one of NASA’s most famous orbiters, may soon be moving again—though not into space. Discovery, which has remained on display at a Virginia museum for over a decade, is now scheduled for a cross-country journey to a new home in Texas, as part of funding approved through Trump’s Big Beautiful Bill.
Big Beautiful Bill Moves NASA’s Discovery After 13 Years in Virginia
This major development is part of a sweeping tax and spending package known as the One Big Beautiful Bill, signed into law by former President Donald Trump on Independence Day. The legislation includes a special $85 million provision aimed at relocating the shuttle to Space Center Houston in Texas.
Steven F. Smithsonian’s National Air and Space Museum has displayed the discovery. Udvar-Hazy Center in Virginia since 2012. The shuttle is known for its long and eventful career in spaceflight, including launching the Hubble Space Telescope and supporting the construction of the International Space Station.
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Texas lawmakers Ted Cruz and John Cornyn introduced the provision to bring Discovery to Houston earlier this year. They argued that since Houston is home to NASA’s Johnson Space Center and was the central command during the shuttle program, it’s only fair that the city should host one of the original orbiters.
Currently, other retired space shuttles are displayed in various parts of the U.S.:
- Enterprise at New York’s Intrepid Sea, Air & Space Museum
- Atlantis near Florida’s Kennedy Space Center
- Attempt at the Los Angeles-based California Science Center
$85 Million Approved for the Relocation to Houston
The $85 million in the One Big Beautiful Bill will be used in two parts:
At least $5 million is allocated directly for transporting the shuttle from Virginia to Texas—a distance of about 1,400 miles. The remaining $80 million, as outlined in the Big Beautiful Bill, will go toward building a brand-new facility in Houston that will house and display the shuttle.
Space Center Houston, the official visitor center for NASA’s Johnson Space Center, is already home to a replica space shuttle named Independence. Unlike the replica, Discovery is a real spacecraft that completed 39 missions between 1984 and 2011 and carried 184 astronauts.
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According to the legislation passed under Trump’s Big Beautiful Bill, the relocation must be completed by January 4, 2027. However, experts from the Smithsonian have estimated that the actual cost of such a move could be between $300 million and $400 million. These higher estimates account for the shuttle’s size, safety requirements, and the complexity of transporting a historic spacecraft without damaging it.
Despite these concerns, the Big Beautiful Bill clearly outlines the funding, and the money has been approved. The move is expected to generate wide public interest as one of the country’s most iconic spacecraft begins a new chapter.
Why Lawmakers Say Houston Deserves Discovery
Texas lawmakers have long pushed for a space shuttle to be displayed in Houston. The city was essential to the American space program. Mission control for the shuttle program was based there, and generations of astronauts trained in the area.
Senator John Cornyn called the effort “long overdue,” describing Houston as the cornerstone of America’s human space exploration program. In his official statement, he welcomed the decision and expressed excitement about seeing Discovery arrive in Texas.
Senator Ted Cruz also praised the move, saying it honors Houston’s important legacy in spaceflight. He added that bringing Discovery to Houston would “highlight the strength of America’s commercial space partnerships and inspire future generations.”
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Cruz and Cornyn introduced the “Bring the Space Shuttle Home Act” in April, which serves as the foundation for the proposed relocation of Discovery. Despite passing discretely within the bigger One Big Beautiful Bill, it has generated a lot of interest among historians and the space community.
Now, with legal backing and funding in place, Discovery’s days in Virginia are numbered. The historic shuttle that once flew above the Earth will soon begin a new journey—this time, firmly on the ground.
