14 DAY TRIAL // Officials with the American space agency are expected to make an important announcement next week, which will finally clear the mystery as to where the space shuttles will be displayed after retirement.
Discovery has already completed its career with the STS-133 mission earlier this year, and it's Endeavor's turn next. The STS-134 mission will launch on April 29, and will last for about two weeks.
Once Atlantis launches to space this June, in the STS-135 mission, the Space Shuttle Program will be officially concluded. The three orbiters will then be shipped to museums for permanent display, after being processed by NASA beforehand.
The announcement the space agency is expected to make on April 12 – the 30th anniversary of the shuttle program – deals with where Discovery, Endeavor and Atlantis will end up.
Thus far, NASA has received proposals from about 21 museums, each of which want the one of the space shuttles for themselves. The bidders also submitted projects showing how the halls in which their shuttles would be displayed would look like.
One of the most important aspects NASA said it will consider is the potential for that prospective location to be heavily trafficked, and to help inspire the young generation towards a career in studying or exploring space.
But museums also have to be ready to pay about $28.5 million to NASA if they want a shuttle. The money will go towards the processing and preparation of the spacecraft for transport and display.
There are numerous hazardous materials and substances on these vehicles, that need to be removed before the general public is allowed in their vicinity. The space agency needs to remove all of them before it can send a shuttle to any other place than its own facilities.
“The shuttle program accomplished many outstanding things for this nation, and in 2012 we look forward to moving our retired orbiters to museums and science centers across the country to inspire the next generation of explorers,” Charles Bolden, the NASA Administrator, told Congress last month.
Thus far, analysts have identified a series of institutions that stand a better chance at winning a shuttle than others. The Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum, in Washington DC, is the front runner.
Trailing close behind is the NASA Johnson Space Center (JSC) Visitor Center, the NASA Kennedy Space Center (KSC) Visitor Center, the Intrepid Sea, Air & Space Museum and the Museum of Flight in Seattle, Space reports.
However, these are all speculations at this point. The official announcement will be made Tuesday, so the wait is almost over.