It's not going to help financially strapped homeowners, but the U.S. government sweetened the pot for museums and institutions hoping to snare a space shuttle for their collections. The new asking price -- which basically covers travel costs -- is a recession-friendly $28.8 million -- a markdown of more one-third off the original $42 million fee.
Technically, the shuttles aren't "for sale." They remain the property of NASA and its official repository for artifacts, the Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum in Washington, D.C. But the Air & Space Museum is only taking one ship -- Discovery -- which leaves Atlantis and Endeavour up for grabs -- assuming, or course, all three make it safely through their last year of flying.
The United States is retiring the fleet after five more missions to complete construction of the International Space Station. By the end of this year, the shuttles will be ready for their new mission as museum pieces.
NASA says it reduced its asking price because some of the work to decommission the shuttles, such as removing hazardous materials, would have to be done even if the shuttles ended up sitting in a hangar at the Kennedy Space Center.
"Since NASA was going to have to do that work anyway, it decided to not pass on those charges to any prospective recipients of the orbiters," says NASA spokesman Michael Curie.
In addition to ferrying the orbiters to their new homes, NASA wants the money so the ships can be spruced up to "display condition."
So far, 21 organizations have sent in proposals to adopt a shuttle. NASA expects a few more before the Feb. 19 deadline.
(Two more space flights, then off to a new home. Credit: NASA)
Tags: NASA, Space Shuttle
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