Washington,
D.C. – Today, U.S. Senator Patty Murray (D-WA) sent a letter to NASA
Administrator Charles F. Bolden, Jr. urging him to strongly consider the Museum
of Flight’s bid to permanently house a retired Space Shuttle Orbiter. In
June, the Museum of Flight broke ground on a new 40,000 square foot Space
Gallery building with a wing which is designed to house one of the three
shuttles being retired by NASA.
“…
Washington state has a long history of contributions to human space
flight. The Boeing Company, founded in Seattle almost 100 years ago,
built the 747 aircraft which transports the Space Shuttle. In addition,
the Boeing Company is the primary contractor for the International Space
Station and is part of the United Space Alliance. The Pacific Northwest has
also been home to more than 25 astronauts, two of whom gave their lives in
service to our country. Support for making the Museum of Flight the permanent
home for a retired Space Shuttle is widespread and includes the entire
Washington Congressional Delegation, the Governor of Washington, the Washington
State Legislature, the City of Seattle, the Washington Education Association,
local businesses, community members and many others,” wrote
Senator Murray.
Senator
Murray is a long-time supporter of the Museum of Flight and its proposal to
house a NASA Space Shuttle. In 2008, Murray and her colleagues in the
Washington state Congressional delegation signed a letter
to former NASA Administrator Michael Griffin supporting the Museum of Flight’s
shuttle application. Murray has also called Bolden twice regarding the bid. In
July, Senator Murray and Secretary of Education Arne Duncan visited
the Aviation High School, which has partnered with the Museum of Flight and is
being constructed adjacent to the Museum, to discuss educational innovation and
the unique science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) program offered by the high school.
The
full text of the letter appears below:
The Honorable Charles F. Bolden, Jr.
Administrator
National Aeronautics and Space Administration
2 Independence Square
300 E Street SW, Room 9F44
Washington, DC 20546
Dear
Administrator Bolden:
I
am writing in regards to the retiring of the National Aeronautics and Space
Administration (NASA) Space Shuttle Orbiters. As you know from our previous
conversations, I am a strong supporter of the Museum of Flight and their application
to secure one of the Space Shuttles. The Museum of Flight has responded
to the requests for information released by NASA in both 2008 and 2010.
The
Museum of Flight is a world-renowned air and space museum that is a great
source of pride for Washingtonians. Founded in 1965, the Museum has been
accredited by the Association of American Museums since 1986 and was awarded
the status of Smithsonian Affiliate in 2007. The Museum is the largest
non-governmental 501(c)(3) air and space museum in the world in gallery size
and operating budget, and it continues to expand. This past June, the
Museum of Flight broke ground on a new 40,000 square foot Space Gallery
building with a wing which is designed to house a Space Shuttle orbiter.
With
over 500,000 visitors each year, including 150,000 students, the Museum of
Flight has the largest kindergarten through twelfth grade education program of
any air and space museum. I am proud of the Museum’s science, technology,
engineering, and math (STEM) education programs and its innovative partnership
with the new Aviation High School, which is being constructed adjacent to the
Museum. Secretary of Education Arne Duncan and I recently visited the
high school and saw firsthand the unique STEM education opportunities that this
high school has to offer. These opportunities to foster creativity,
innovation and discovery would only be increased by having a Space Shuttle
onsite at the Museum.
As
we have discussed, Washington state has a long history of contributions to human
space flight. The Boeing Company, founded in Seattle almost 100 years
ago, built the 747 aircraft which transports the Space Shuttle. In
addition, the Boeing Company is the primary contractor for the International
Space Station and is part of the United Space Alliance. The Pacific
Northwest has also been home to more than 25 astronauts, two of whom gave their
lives in service to our country.
Support
for making the Museum of Flight the permanent home for a retired Space Shuttle
is widespread and includes the entire Washington Congressional Delegation, the
Governor of Washington, the Washington State Legislature, the City of Seattle,
the Washington Education Association, local businesses, community members and
many others. These groups have been vocal in their advocacy and are ready
to make the significant investments necessary to prepare a Space Shuttle for
display and relocation. NASA has estimated that it will cost $28 million
to prepare a shuttle for display and relocation, and that a selected site must
bear this cost.
I
am confident that the Museum of Flight offers the location, staff, and
facilities necessary to display and maintain a Space Shuttle. As the
Museum will preserve and utilize the Space Shuttle in a manner befitting its
significant historical, cultural and educational importance, I ask that you
strongly consider the Museum of Flight as a candidate for receiving a Space
Shuttle.
I
look forward to continuing to work with you to bring a Space Shuttle home to
Washington state. Please feel free to contact me with any questions or
concerns.
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