S. 1403: Bring the Space Shuttle Home Act

This bill, titled the "Bring the Space Shuttle Home Act," proposes to transfer the Discovery space shuttle from the Smithsonian Institution to NASA's Johnson Space Center in Houston, Texas, within 18 months of the bill's enactment. The process involves several key steps:

Transfer Requirements

The National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) Administrator will oversee the transfer of the Discovery shuttle. A joint plan will be developed between the Administrator and the Smithsonian Institution, which will include the estimated timeline and cost for the transfer. This plan must be submitted to Congress within 90 days after the bill becomes law.

Title Transfer

Once the Discovery space shuttle is moved to Houston, the Smithsonian Institution is required to transfer the ownership title of the shuttle to NASA within one year of its actual transfer.

Public Exhibition

After the shuttle is transferred, it will be displayed to the public in a location no more than five miles from the Johnson Space Center. This exhibition aims to promote education in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM). Until the shuttle is transferred to a non-profit organization, NASA will be responsible for its oversight.

Nonprofit Involvement

At some point after the title transfer, the NASA Administrator will hand over the ownership of the shuttle to a non-profit organization designated by them. This organization will be responsible for keeping the shuttle on public display to continue promoting STEM education at a location near the Johnson Space Center.

Funding Provisions

The bill also authorizes the appropriation of necessary funds to execute the provisions concerning the transfer and exhibition of the Discovery shuttle. These funds can be additional to those authorized by other legislation and may be included in the President's supplemental budget requests as needed.

Summary of Steps Involved

• Transfer the Discovery shuttle from the Smithsonian to NASA within 18 months.
• Develop and submit a transfer plan to Congress within 90 days.
• Transfer ownership title to NASA within one year after the shuttle's transfer.
• Exhibit the shuttle to the public in proximity to Johnson Space Center.
• Transfer the shuttle to a designated non-profit for continued public exhibition focused on STEM education.

Relevant Companies

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