All articles tagged with #space shuttle discovery
The US Congress has rejected most proposed cuts to NASA's budget, restoring it to nearly previous levels, and has also maintained support for the Space Launch System and Artemis missions, though some budget reductions remain. The fate of the Space Shuttle Discovery's relocation to Houston is still uncertain, with discussions ongoing about the logistics and safety of the move.
NASA's new administrator Jared Isaacman is exploring options to move the historic Space Shuttle Discovery to Houston's Johnson Space Center, but if the move proves too costly or risky, he plans to send a different spacecraft like an Orion capsule instead, balancing political pressures, safety, and budget considerations.
The Space Shuttle Discovery, currently displayed at the Smithsonian's National Air and Space Museum, is proposed to be moved to Space Center Houston in Texas following legislation that allocates $85 million for the transfer, amid concerns over costs and preservation.
The Fairfax County Board of Supervisors unanimously opposed the proposed relocation of the Space Shuttle Discovery from the Smithsonian, citing concerns over the extensive and resource-intensive process of moving the shuttle to Houston, and the KeepTheShuttle organization is actively working to block the relocation through local, state, and federal efforts.
NASA celebrates the 40th anniversary of Space Shuttle Discovery, the longest-serving Space Shuttle. Discovery flew 39 missions over more than 26 years, including launching the Hubble Space Telescope and participating in the International Space Station assembly. It was also the first to carry a cosmonaut on a US spacecraft and ferried veteran astronaut John Glenn to orbit. Despite experiencing launch abort and being used for Return To Flight missions after the Challenger and Columbia disasters, Discovery was retired in 2011 and is now on public display at the Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Center in Virginia.
NASA's space shuttle Discovery made its public debut during a rollout ceremony in 1983. It went on to become the most flown orbiter, completing 39 missions over a span of 26 years. Discovery played a crucial role in various missions, including deploying satellites, servicing the Hubble Space Telescope, and assembling the International Space Station. After its retirement in 2011, Discovery was put on display at the Smithsonian Institution's National Air and Space Museum.
On April 25, 1990, the Hubble Space Telescope was placed into orbit by the Space Shuttle Discovery, marking a significant advance in astronomy. The telescope has allowed scientists to peer deep into space using visible, ultraviolet, and infrared wavelengths, without the distorting impact caused by Earth’s atmosphere. Its greatest contribution has been advancing science’s understanding of the origins of the universe, including pinning down the age of the universe at 13.8 billion years and helping determine the rate at which the universe is expanding. The Hubble Space Telescope continues to explore deep space today, circling the Earth every 95 minutes.