NASA issues draft request for moving space shuttleDiscovery—or Orion capsule

NASA is making significant strides toward the potential relocation of a historic spacecraft, the space shuttle Discovery, from its current home at the Smithsonian in Virginia. The agency is assessing the logistics of moving this iconic vehicle to Houston, Texas, as well as the transportation of smaller spacecraft like the Orion capsule from various locations across the country. On Thursday, NASA issued a draft request for proposal (DRFP) titled the "NASA Flown Space Vehicle Multimodal Transportation Multiple Award Contract." This initiative aims to gather insights from contractors on the best methods for transporting both large aerospace vehicles and smaller capsules. This pre-solicitation request aligns with legal requirements outlined in the One Big Beautiful Bill Act, which mandates that NASA relocate a human-flown vehicle to a non-profit facility near a center associated with the commercial crew program. Texas Senators John Cornyn and Ted Cruz have championed this initiative, with the intention of showcasing Discovery at Space Center Houston. However, due to Senate regulations, the language of the law had to remain somewhat ambiguous. Senator Cornyn expressed his support for the process, stating, "My law authorizing and funding the space shuttle Discovery’s movement to Houston is being set into motion thanks to NASA’s announcement, and I applaud Administrator Isaacman for keeping this process moving." While the law was designed to facilitate the shuttle's journey to Houston, it also leaves room for the possibility of other artifacts being sent to the area, as NASA Administrator Jared Isaacman noted back in December 2025. The future of Discovery's relocation remains to be fully determined, but NASA's latest actions mark a notable step in honoring and preserving the legacy of human space exploration.