When the shuttle retires...

[Grand_Lunar]

After we retire the space shuttles, what ought to be done with them?

I for one hope to see them be preserved and displayed. After all, it was done with the Iowa class battleships, and the last of the Saturn 5 rockets. The shuttles deserve such treatment as well.

I suppose each can be displayed at the Saturn 5 at the Kennedy Space Center on Merrit Island; enclosed in a building to protect it from the elements.

Now, where to display each one? Kennedy Space Center could be one choice, as well as Johnson Space Center. But where else?

[Maksutov]

After we retire the space shuttles, what ought to be done with them?

I for one hope to see them be preserved and displayed. After all, it was done with the Iowa class battleships, and the last of the Saturn 5 rockets. The shuttles deserve such treatment as well.

I suppose each can be displayed at the Saturn 5 at the Kennedy Space Center on Merrit Island; enclosed in a building to protect it from the elements.

Now, where to display each one? Kennedy Space Center could be one choice, as well as Johnson Space Center. But where else?My backyard.

Always wanted one of those things. Just to make the neighborhood association happy, I'll forgo the ET and SRBs.

BTW, I think someone on the BABB had first dibs on an orbiter a while back. Might have been ToSeek.

[NEOWatcher]

Since it's design is partly military... how about the Dayton AFM.

[mahesh]

can we have one in london, after they are retired, pleeeaaase.

we'll take good care of it. promise.

[Swift]

I would assume that the Smithsonian's Air & Space Museum would get one. The Air Force museum in Dayton is a good choice too. I doubt the third will be scrapped.

[OceanLife]

can we have one in london, after they are retired, pleeeaaase.

we'll take good care of it. promise.


I suppose somewhere near 12 trees crescent, eh?

[mahesh]

I suppose somewhere near 12 trees crescent, eh?

goodnayes me!!

we can 'ilford' that

[Grand_Lunar]

...I'll forgo the ET and SRBs.

Since those parts are to be incorperated into the CVE anyway, good idea.


I would assume that the Smithsonian's Air & Space Museum would get one.
I thought they already had the Enterprise.

[jrkeller]

I suspect Johnson Space Center, Kennedy Space Center and maybe the place in Kansas. Cosmosphere I believe.

[sts60]

JSC, KSC, and how about Edwards AFB? That's where they spent a lot of time testing and landing, and it distributes them reasonably well geographically.

Yes, Enterprise resides at the Smithsonians Udvar-Hazy center by at Dulles Airport.

[Nicolas]

one should be given to a woman and one to a minority, so that leaves us with one shuttle to find a home for ;) :D

[Gemini]

US Space and Rocket Center in Huntsville for one( mainly so I won't have to travel several hours to see it) ;)

[Gullible Jones]

Shuttle main fuel tanks should be used in assembly of orbital habitats.

[Grand_Lunar]

From what I can see on NASA's website for the return to the moon, it looks like the ET will become the first stage of the heavy lifter, equiped with five main engines and two extended boosters.

Your suggestion for locations seem reasonable, STS60. I hope whoever is in charge of the descion has the same idea.

[publiusr]

I want one in Alabama, with the Buran Analogue right next to it.
This is how you don't build a shuttle. And this is how you do.

[Gemini]

Shuttle main fuel tanks should be used in assembly of orbital habitats.

Right On!

[publiusr]

www.spaceislandgroup.com

[mopc]

What? Publiusr promoting *private* space entreprises??? Has the world gone INSANE????

[mugaliens]

It wouldn't be the Air and Space Museum. Too big - it'd take up 1/3 of the building.

Wright Pat ought to get one. So should Kennedy and Houston. Some place out West, too, so they don't forget!

Yes - the flying museum near London. The Brits are our friends, and have joined with us on many military and civilian projects over the years involving our space shuttle program.

How many do we have left, anyway?

[Gemini]

A whoppping 3

[Gemini]

www.spaceislandgroup.com

That is Awesome, The Best of Both worlds, STS Buran Hybrid

[OneHotJupiter]

What do you think will happen to the Three Remaining Shuttles?

Will they become Museum pieces or Stripped for materials or what?

Where would they go to be displayed?

[NEOWatcher]

I'm sure this discussion (http://www.bautforum.com/off-topic-babbling/35356-when-shuttle-retires.html) has some insight for you.

[ToSeek]

I'm sure this discussion (http://www.bautforum.com/off-topic-babbling/35356-when-shuttle-retires.html) has some insight for you.

Threads merged.

[ToSeek]

It wouldn't be the Air and Space Museum. Too big - it'd take up 1/3 of the building.


It would fit in the annex. (http://www.nasm.si.edu/museum/udvarhazy/) (The Enterprise already does.)

[triplebird]

The Brits are our friends, and have joined with us on many military and civilian projects over the years involving our space shuttle program...

If any shuttles left the USA, I'm sure Canada would have first dibs since their RMS Arm is such a well-known and well-used part of the STS.

Maybe there should be some clone shuttles made so everyone that wants one gets one... :)

[Moose]

If any shuttles left the USA, I'm sure Canada would have first dibs since their RMS Arm is such a well-known and well-used part of the STS.

Other than the West Edmonton Mall (where two of our five submarines are reputed to be), where would we put it?

[NEOWatcher]

Other than the West Edmonton Mall (where two of our five submarines are reputed to be), where would we put it?
It might look pretty cool mounted to the top of the CN tower.

[Gillianren]

Some place out West, too, so they don't forget!

The Museum of Flight at Boeing Field? That's less than an hour away for me.

[PhantomWolf]

There are likely plenty of places in the US that would love one of them, I imagine the Strategic Air and Space Museum in Ashland, Nebreska, would be willing to put up their hand too if it was offered.

[mike alexander]

Or you could put one in the Evergreen Aviation Museum here in McMinnville. We already have the Spruce Goose, an SR-71...

[KaiYeves]

I would certainly have to say museums.

[Larry Jacks]

Or you could put one in the Evergreen Aviation Museum here in McMinnville. We already have the Spruce Goose, an SR-71...


That's a fine museum. Two of my grandkids lived in McMinnville until a few months ago so I used to visit there every year. I seem to recall that many of the aircraft are still airworthy. I was very impressed seeing the D-21 drone last year. I've seen Blackbirds (mostly the single seat A-12 variant) before but that was the first time I'd seen a D-21. There's this polished aluminum plane there from about 1940 that's just beautiful. Every time I see it, I want to steal it. Problem is - someone is bound to notice. The last time I visited the museum, they were letting people get up close and personal with their B-17. That was the first time I got a good look at the ball turret. It was a very cramped space and a dangerous crew position.

[mike alexander]

My understanding is the goal is to have every craft restored to be as airworthy as possible. The HK-1 (H4, Spruce Goose) is supposedly so.The B-17 is in flying condition, I'm told. They recently acquired a Titan II ICBM, but I don't know if they ever intend to fly it.

Besides, how many avation museums do you know with a vineyard out in front? (LOTS of vineyards in Yamhill County).

[Larry Jacks]

I've read that the Hughes Hercules (he hated the name "Spruce Goose") will never fly again. Reportedly, they had to do some things when they moved it to Oregon that are irreversible. It's still an amazing plane, truly one of a kind.

[Maksutov]

If any shuttles left the USA, I'm sure Canada would have first dibs since their RMS Arm is such a well-known and well-used part of the STS....That's a Canadian product? Heck, when I first saw it in the vacuum of space where there's no humidity, I thought it was an ad for Canada Dry (http://content.answers.com/main/content/wp/en/2/28/Canada_Dry_Packaging-Logo.gif) beverages.