I Want A Space Shuttle For Christmas

11:17 am EST December 18th, 2008 | Uncategorized | 6 Comments

Is that too much to ask?

space shuttle

NASA’s soon-to-be-retired space shuttles are up for grabs.

The space agency said Wednesday it’s looking for ideas on where and how best to display its space shuttles once they stop flying in a few years. It’s put out a call to schools, science museums and ‘other appropriate organizations’ that might be interested in showcasing one of the three remaining shuttles.

Beware: NASA estimates it will cost about $42 million to get each shuttle ready and get it where it needs to go, and the final tab could end up much more.

The estimate includes $6 million to ferry the spaceship atop a modified jumbo jet to the closest major airport. But the price could skyrocket depending on how far the display site is from the airport. Only indoor, climate-controlled displays will be considered.

‘The orbiters will not be disassembled for transportation or storage,’ NASA insists in its nine-page request for information.

Imagine the cachet of owning your own space shuttle. “Yeah, ladies, a Ferrari is fine for most guys, but do you know a lot of other guys who have a vehicle that’s been in SPACE? With a ROBOT ARM? Well…”

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6 Responses to “I Want A Space Shuttle For Christmas”

  1. Matt says:
    December 18, 2008 at 12:00 pm

    “The estimate includes $6 million to ferry the spaceship atop a modified jumbo jet to the closest major airport.”

    Paging Mr. Drax. . . .

  2. Parthenon says:
    December 18, 2008 at 1:55 pm

    They should cut one up and sell pieces of it for cats like me.

  3. Duros62 says:
    December 18, 2008 at 4:52 pm

    “Yeah, ladies, a Ferrari is fine for most guys, but do you know a lot of other guys who have a vehicle that’s been in SPACE? With a ROBOT ARM? Well…”

    That’s all well and good, Oliver, but a Ferrari can still go to the market for snacks.

  4. Zython says:
    December 18, 2008 at 6:02 pm

    Screw a spaceship, I want my superpowers already. Without those, my career as a supervillian is going nowhere.

  5. Oliver Willis says:
    December 18, 2008 at 6:50 pm

    a Ferrari can still go to the market for snacks
    I can for snacks… IN SPACE!

  6. Rheinhard says:
    December 18, 2008 at 7:17 pm

    I worked for over 7 years on the Shuttle program; trust me, they’re more trouble than they’re worth.