Display of Retired Orbiters and SSMEs

[SpaceCanada]

--- Copied from my e-mail inbox. ---

NASA today issued a Request for Information seeking ideas from educational institutions, science museums and other appropriate organizations about the community’s ability to acquire and publicly display the space shuttle orbiters and space shuttle main engines after the conclusion of the Space Shuttle Program.

Sponsored by NASA's Office of Infrastructure, the RFI seeks input from appropriate officials and decision-makers from museums, science centers, institutions and other organizations dedicated to education or educational outreach with experience in public display of space hardware and nationally recognized historic artifacts. NASA will use information gained from this RFI to develop strategies for eventual placement of two space shuttle orbiters and a minimum of six unassembled space shuttle main engine display “kits.”

The primary goal of this effort is to collect a wide variety of perspectives on whether eligible recipient organizations are capable of appropriately displaying the shuttle orbiters and main engines and bearing the full cost of preparing the hardware for display and transportation to its final destination. The RFI also seeks ideas on how these assets can best be used in the broad national interest to inspire the American public and students in particular. Organizations interested in responding to the RFI must provide their input to NASA by March 17, 2009.

For additional information and to view the RFI, visit www.nasa.gov/ transition.

For additional information about the shuttle program, visit http://www.nasa. gov/shuttle.

[SpaceCanada]

--- Another message from my e-mail inbox. ---

Want to buy a space shuttle? It'll cost you $42 million

Robert Block
Orlando Sentinel
1:16 PM EST, December 17, 2008

Museums around the country that have expressed interest in obtaining a
genuine flown-in space shuttle are being told by NASA that it's really
going to cost them.

How much? $42 million -- including $6 million for shipping and handling.

That's the pricetag NASA intends to set for cleaning up any of the three
remaining shuttles -- which are scheduled to be retired in 2010 or
shortly thereafter -- and delivering an orbiter to the airport closest
to the museum.

Never before has NASA charged institutions like the Smithsonian
Institution' s National Air and Space Museum for its artifacts. But later
today the agency will issue a "Request for Information" to the
Smithsonian Institution and other museums around the country to fathom
their interest in obtaining a shuttle -- as well as the depth of the
pockets.

According to a NASA document obtained by the Orlando Sentinel: "The NASA
Administrator directed that a Request for Information (RFI) be issued to
U.S. educational institutions, science museums and other organizations
to gauge the level of interest in acquiring an Orbiter at the end of the
program, and to notify potential recipients of NASA's intent to require
potential recipients to assume all costs associated with transfer of
these assets."

The RFI, it adds, is an attempt at "identifying whether potential
recipient organizations are capable of bearing the full cost of Space
Shuttle Orbiter safing and final display preparation, SSME assembly and
final display preparation, and transportation. "

"Safing" a shuttle means decontamination of the ships hypergolic fuel
systems -- including toxic hydrazine -- and removal of other safety and
environmental hazards from the vehicles.

While no reason was offered why NASA is taking the unprecedented step to
charge museums for cleanup and transportation costs, NASA insiders say
it is because the agency needs every penny it can get for the shuttle's
replacement: the Ares I rocket and Orion capsule, which are believed to
be over budget.

Again according to the NASA RFI document: "The cost of decontaminating
each Orbiter, making it safe for public display, and transporting it to
its final destination is estimated at approximately $42 million.

"This $42 million estimate includes a $6 million cost to air ferry the
Orbiter by Shuttle Carrier Aircraft from the Kennedy Space Center to a
U. S. destination airport. This early estimate is based on specific
assumptions by NASA about the minimum tasks which must be performed for
public display of a Space Shuttle Orbiter."

It cautions: "The estimate is subject to change."

NASA officials confirmed the authenticity of the document, saying the
final version is due out today after 3:00 p.m.

Some staff from museums were contacted, and said they were aware of the
fact that NASA wanted them to pay for the shuttles but would not comment
until they received and reviewed the final document.

[SpaceCanada]

I wish I could win the lottery and keep Endeavour in my back garden. You know... for educational purposes... sure. I just want to wake up every morning and see an orbiter out my back window.

[gt0163c]

I wish I could win the lottery and keep Endeavour in my back garden. You know... for educational purposes... sure. I just want to wake up every morning and see an orbiter out my back window.

Even better, you could conver the interior into living space and wake up each morning IN an orbiter. Wouldn't be near as cool as waking up in one actually in space, but still.

[SpaceCanada]

Even better, you could convert the interior into living space and wake up each morning IN an orbiter. Wouldn't be near as cool as waking up in one actually in space, but still.

Now you're thinking... and if it is insulated enough to keep astronauts warm in space then it should get me through these freakishly cold winters too.

I would still need my house though - for things like a kitchen and shower - I wouldn't want to taint the payload bay with such conveniences unless I absolutely had to.

Now that I think of it, why didn't I build my house to look like a shuttle in the first place?

[gt0163c]

Now you're thinking... and if it is insulated enough to keep astronauts warm in space then it should get me through these freakishly cold winters too.

Have to figure out a way to make it not quite 100% air tight though.

I would still need me house though - for things like a kitchen and showe - I wouldn't want to taint the payload bay with such conveniences unless I absolutely had to.

I was thinking about that. I figure that's what spacehab would be for. Although you'd still have to figure out something for the plumbing, but there's probably a way to work the pipes through somewhere close to the landing gear and then tap into the water and sewer lines from there. Wouldn't be 100% prestine, but would make it liveable.

Now that I think of it, why didn't I just build my house to look like a shuttle to begin with?

Now that would be very cool. And much less expensive.

[pilotgirl21]

Maybe one morning I'll wake up and find $42 million laying outside my apartment door and I can buy one for an educational facility close to me.

[bnaivar]

42 million for something with that many miles on it?

[Benji]

42 million for something with that many miles on it.

I can imagine the classified ad...

"100,000,000 easy, (mostly) friction-free miles! Regular maintenance, only one owner!"