NASA Seeks Museums to Take Retired Shuttles

Museums interested in exhibiting NASA's space shuttle orbiters after they're retired in 2010 may need to meet certain requirements set by the space agency on Wednesday, including the ability to underwrite upwards of $40 million in shipping and handling charges.

The prerequisites, which were outlined in a formal request for information posted on NASA's website, seek to insure that the orbiters are properly displayed, that they are used to "inspire the American public and students in particular" and if possible do so without burdening NASA with having to pay for the vehicles' preparation and transfer.

The fee per shuttle, which NASA estimates today will run $42 million (but cautions that the estimates are subject to change) are not for the vehicle itself, but the work needed before it is suitable for exhibition.

"It is really not selling the orbiter, it is the preparation," said NASA spokesman Michael Curie in an interview with collectSPACE.com, explaining that $28.2 million goes toward "safing" the orbiter, "which is primarily, removing all the hypergolic fuel systems and other environmental hazards from the shuttle," $8 million for making it ready for display and $5.8 million for ferrying it on NASA's modified Boeing 747 to an airport near the museum.

The projected price tag does not include the provision of an indoor, climate-controlled facility to house the shuttle, which NASA requires. Nor does it come with the orbiter's three space shuttle main engines (SSMEs).

According to the request for information, "NASA plans to initially retain flight-worthy SSMEs for technical mitigation and potential programmatic reuse. The Space Shuttle Orbiters that would be available for donation after the end of the program would be offered without flight SSMEs."

NASA can fabricate engine bay covers or mock nozzles for an additional price, offers the document, or museums may choose to request non-flight-worthy unassembled or partially assembled engines, which are estimated to cost between $400,000 and $800,000 per unit, exclusive of the shipping costs.

Curie didn't immediately know why the orbiters and their engines were being donated separately, but speculated it might be to simplify the delivery of the shuttles.

Though NASA has three orbiters - Discovery, Atlantis and Endeavour - only two will be available for donation. NASA plans to reserve the third for the Smithsonian's National Air and Space Museum, assuming they too can meet the same financial and facility requirements as the other museums.

Click here to continue reading at collectSPACE.com and learn which space shuttle orbiter NASA has reserved for the Smithsonian.

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