Space Shuttle Retirement Locations for Fleet Announced by NASA

On Tuesday of this week, NASA announced the plans for the retirement of the Space Shuttle fleet. The plans include where the orbiters will spend the rest of their days on display, and other parts of the once vibrant launch systems.

The hope is to use the retired vehicles to inspire future generations of space explorers, scientists and engineers by showcasing the fleet at institutions around the United States. NASA Administrator Charles Bolden unveiled the locations for the orbirter fleet in a statement.

Shuttle Enterprise, the first orbiter built for unpowered gliding drop tests, which has been on display at the Smithsonian’s National Air and Space Museum Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Center in Virginia will be moved to the Intrepid Sea, Air & Space Museum in New York. The Space Shuttle Discovery, which retired after completing its 39th mission in March, will take its place.

Shuttle Endeavour, will go to the California Science Center in Los Angeles after its final flight at the end of this month. The last Shuttle scheduled to fly for the space program, slated for a June launch, Atlantis, will be displayed at the Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex in Florida.

“We want to thank all of the locations that expressed an interest in one of these national treasures,” Bolden said. “This was a very difficult decision, but one that was made with the American public in mind. In the end, these choices provide the greatest number of people with the best opportunity to share in the history and accomplishments of NASA’s remarkable Space Shuttle Program. These facilities we’ve chosen have a noteworthy legacy of preserving space artifacts and providing outstanding access to U.S. and international visitors.”

Additionally, many components of the shuttle fleet, such as engines, seats, and training components, will be distributed to other museums and educational institutions.