NASA Looking to Permanently Park and Display the Retired Space Shuttles
The National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) is issuing a Request for Information (RFI) to obtain input 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 (SSME) after conclusion of the Space Shuttle Program.
The RFI seeks input from educational institutions, science museums, and other appropriate organizations with experience in public display of space hardware and nationally-recognized historical 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 SSME display engines.
NASA’s primary goal of this effort is to collect a wide variety of perspectives on whether eligible recipient organizations are capable of appropriately displaying the Space Shuttle Orbiters and SSMEs 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.
NASA will cease Shuttle operations following completion of the last flight, currently scheduled to occur no later than September 30, 2010. Shuttle retirement necessitates the disposition of all assets and items no longer required by NASA, including the Space Shuttle Orbiters and SSMEs. Disposition of property will be accomplished according to existing government policy and guidelines developed and managed by the General Services Administration (GSA).
The NASA Authorization Act of 2008 (P.L. 110-422) directed NASA to "submit to Congress a plan describing the process for the disposition of the remaining Orbiters and other Space Shuttle program-related hardware after the retirement of the Space Shuttle fleet." NASA advised Congress that it would begin discussions with the Smithsonian Institution, National Air and Space Museum regarding accession of a flown Space Shuttle Orbiter to the national collection. The National Air and Space Museum houses the national collection of aerospace artifacts. NASA also advised the Congress that the Agency would issue an RFI to gauge the level and scope of interest of U.S. organizations in acquiring the two (2) other Orbiters and other major flight hardware (such as the SSMEs) for public display once NASA's programmatic requirements for the assets have been satisfied.
Due to the significance of the Space Shuttle Orbiters and the role they have played in the Nation's space program, special attention will be paid to ensuring they will retire to appropriate places. NASA is keenly aware of the essential value of these key assets to the space program's rich history; the Agency is therefore committed to making placement decisions that are determined to be in the best interest of the American taxpayer.
NASA's current plan is to transfer one flown Orbiter to the National Air and Space Museum. The remaining two flown Orbiters would be placed in storage at the John F. Kennedy Space Center until final placement decisions are made. The Orbiters would be available for donation no earlier than September 30, 2011. NASA desires to ferry the Orbiters to their final destinations no later than May 31, 2012.
NASA estimates the total cost to be incurred by a recipient organization for safing one Orbiter, preparing it for final display, and delivery by ferry flight to a U.S. destination airport 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 does not take into account special measures that may be required in specific situations such as transporting the Orbiter long distances over public roadways which may require removal of light posts and traffic signals or transport by barge over water. Additional preparation tasks such as fabrication of engine bay covers or mock nozzles, open payload bay door display configuration, and lighting on the vehicle would also increase costs to recipients. The Orbiters will not be disassembled for transportation or storage.
For more information:
http://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/transition/home/int_orbiter_rfi.html
http://prod.nais.nasa.gov/cgi-bin/eps/synopsis.cgi?acqid=133299
http://www.astromart.com/news/news.asp?news_id=850
Astromart News Archive:
http://www.astromart.com/news/search.asp?search=.+&search_btn=Go
The RFI seeks input from educational institutions, science museums, and other appropriate organizations with experience in public display of space hardware and nationally-recognized historical 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 SSME display engines.
NASA’s primary goal of this effort is to collect a wide variety of perspectives on whether eligible recipient organizations are capable of appropriately displaying the Space Shuttle Orbiters and SSMEs 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.
NASA will cease Shuttle operations following completion of the last flight, currently scheduled to occur no later than September 30, 2010. Shuttle retirement necessitates the disposition of all assets and items no longer required by NASA, including the Space Shuttle Orbiters and SSMEs. Disposition of property will be accomplished according to existing government policy and guidelines developed and managed by the General Services Administration (GSA).
The NASA Authorization Act of 2008 (P.L. 110-422) directed NASA to "submit to Congress a plan describing the process for the disposition of the remaining Orbiters and other Space Shuttle program-related hardware after the retirement of the Space Shuttle fleet." NASA advised Congress that it would begin discussions with the Smithsonian Institution, National Air and Space Museum regarding accession of a flown Space Shuttle Orbiter to the national collection. The National Air and Space Museum houses the national collection of aerospace artifacts. NASA also advised the Congress that the Agency would issue an RFI to gauge the level and scope of interest of U.S. organizations in acquiring the two (2) other Orbiters and other major flight hardware (such as the SSMEs) for public display once NASA's programmatic requirements for the assets have been satisfied.
Due to the significance of the Space Shuttle Orbiters and the role they have played in the Nation's space program, special attention will be paid to ensuring they will retire to appropriate places. NASA is keenly aware of the essential value of these key assets to the space program's rich history; the Agency is therefore committed to making placement decisions that are determined to be in the best interest of the American taxpayer.
NASA's current plan is to transfer one flown Orbiter to the National Air and Space Museum. The remaining two flown Orbiters would be placed in storage at the John F. Kennedy Space Center until final placement decisions are made. The Orbiters would be available for donation no earlier than September 30, 2011. NASA desires to ferry the Orbiters to their final destinations no later than May 31, 2012.
NASA estimates the total cost to be incurred by a recipient organization for safing one Orbiter, preparing it for final display, and delivery by ferry flight to a U.S. destination airport 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 does not take into account special measures that may be required in specific situations such as transporting the Orbiter long distances over public roadways which may require removal of light posts and traffic signals or transport by barge over water. Additional preparation tasks such as fabrication of engine bay covers or mock nozzles, open payload bay door display configuration, and lighting on the vehicle would also increase costs to recipients. The Orbiters will not be disassembled for transportation or storage.
For more information:
http://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/transition/home/int_orbiter_rfi.html
http://prod.nais.nasa.gov/cgi-bin/eps/synopsis.cgi?acqid=133299
http://www.astromart.com/news/news.asp?news_id=850
Astromart News Archive:
http://www.astromart.com/news/search.asp?search=.+&search_btn=Go
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