No Shuttle for Houston (Mission, Center: universities, living in, restaurants)

[RocketSci]

Originally Posted by Metro Matt

The question is will Angeleons actually appreciate a shuttle being there.

Houston is after all America's Space City, not LA.

We have a great deal of respect for NASA here.

People associate Houston with space. People associate LA with those Hollywood movies made about space.

I think people outside of Houston, especially outside of the Clear lake area, have a much greater appreciation of the space program than people in Houston do. Sometimes people do not appreciate what they have. For decades the Saturn rocket stood out in the open, and decayed badly. Only in the last few years was it put into a barn-like facility, hardly complimentary when compared to the facility at Kennedy.

[texas7]

I urge you all to e-mail or write and express your thoughts to the below:
If you would like to share your thoughts on the retiring shuttle fleet with NASA, you can contact them at:
Public Communications Office
NASA Headquarters
Suite 5K39
Washington, DC 20546-0001
202-358-0001 (Office)
202-358-4338 (Fax)
Email: public-inquiries@hq.nasa.gov

This was all politics with little regard to the significance that Houston has played in space exploration. Not to mention that some of cities receiving a shuttle were giving a big "yay" when space cuts for Nasa were announced because they think its a waste of money - yet they wanted OUR shuttles. Even if you aren't a space fan or supporter of NASA - common sense tells you that one of those shuttles should have gone with its history! Write and e-mail people - don't stop expressing your displeasure at the slight to Texas and to the astronauts who lost their lives in space exploration!

[texas7]

Originally Posted by RocketSci

I think people outside of Houston, especially outside of the Clear lake area, have a much greater appreciation of the space program than people in Houston do. Sometimes people do not appreciate what they have. For decades the Saturn rocket stood out in the open, and decayed badly. Only in the last few years was it put into a barn-like facility, hardly complimentary when compared to the facility at Kennedy.

You have no idea what you are talking about in terms of a "great appreciation" People in Clear Lake live and breathe NASA -

[Metro Matt]

Originally Posted by texas7

You have no idea what you are talking about in terms of a "great appreciation" People in Clear Lake live and breathe NASA -

Do they still have that NASA themed McDonald's down there? I always loved passing by that thing.

[RocketSci]

Originally Posted by Scarface713

Oh okay. So, the 9/11 Memorial should go to Houston then and not NYC, correct?

Houston is free to build their own memorial. New Yorkers have already paid for theirs.

[texas7]

Originally Posted by ethanw

As much as I love Houston and as much we deserve this space shuttle in all honesty we're not ready nor good for it. Look at the current NASA tourist complex we have right now. Plain, boring to the extent of almost lame. They really need to hire some good PR and fantastic design outfits and make that place vibrant and happening. If we were to get the shuttle I believe we were not ready to host it as other states may be able to. But that’s just my assessment after visiting all the other NASA facilities.

Right - so they can get blasted for wasting taxpayer money - people bash 'em when they spend it and bash 'em for not spending it to spruce it up fancy.

[texas7]

Originally Posted by RocketSci

Houston is free to build their own memorial. New Yorkers have already paid for theirs.

And Houston paid for the shuttles with the loss of lives on two separate shuttles. The families of those astronauts deserved to see those shuttles here as a tribute to what their loved ones gave up in the name of science. This was about red and blue states.

[RocketSci]

Originally Posted by texas7

You have no idea what you are talking about in terms of a "great appreciation" People in Clear Lake live and breathe NASA -

People tend to be complacent about what they already have. What is familiar to people in Clear Lake (living next to an astronaut, for example) is exotic and exciting to others who are not there. It is rare that people in Clear Lake visit Space Center Houston unless escorting out of town visitors. It just seems that the best way to encourage future accomplishments and support in the space program is to broaden its exposure to more Americans, hence place shuttles in arguably 4 of the most visited places. If there were a 5th shuttle perhaps Las Vegas could have also been selected...

[Queen Palm]

Originally Posted by dalparadise

I love this suggestion. Please allow me to add one, myself:

If Houston truly had a collective vision, we would have remodeled the Astrodome into a space museum/attraction, with a shuttle hanging from the ceiling as its centerpiece. I'm envisioning a combination of theme park-like attractions, such as motion simulators with museum-quality exhibits and attractions (a step way up from Space Center Houston).

This would have solved the dome problem and presented a much more compelling home for the shuttle than the one Houston submitted. I imagine the exhibit space would have been even larger than the National Air and Space Museum -- a definite attraction.

It's not feasible, financially, I know. But, great ideas that change cities rarely are.

i like the idea of having it displayed in the Astrodome. I wonder why it wasn't considered.

At any rate, as much as it may hurt, congrats to the cities that got the shuttles. Perhaps one day I will venture to one of them to see it/them displayed. I've been to the Smithsonian, loved it. Would love to go back.

[jfre81]

Originally Posted by Queen Palm

i like the idea of having it displayed in the Astrodome. I wonder why it wasn't considered.

Cost, for one thing. They would actually have to properly keep up the building if it is going to be displayed to the public there. Keep in mind it has been basically left to rot for over a decade now. And I'm sure the Texans and the rodeo would have nothing to do with it, just like all the other redevelopment plans.

One alternative might be to acquire the Astroworld site, display it there, along with a CityCentre-type development with a hotel, bars, restaurants, maybe even some residential. And if we really wanted to get ambitious, maybe a smaller amusement park area. Texas Cyclone/Greezed Lightnin' 2.0? And then this becomes something for people to do near Reliant when something big comes around there like the Final Four which milked the "Space City" theme for all it was worth.

Of course that too would require a lot of money and money's not easy to come by these days.

Purchasing one of the lots downtown by Discovery Green, next to an existing attraction (and close to others) would have made it visible and accessible, not too far out of the way and would be relatively inexpensive. It would be more or less an extension of the park. Raise it a couple hundred feet in the air over GRB so it can be seen from 59. Maybe even have a lift to take people inside of it and charge $10-15 or so a head for it.

It's a shame we're only discussing this after the fact, because apparently nobody had a bigger idea than just encasing it in glass and sticking it out at JSC, out of sight and out of mind. Honestly, it's better off in NYC than that.

If somebody really wants it here bad enough, I suppose they could make NYC an offer and put something together here that would have a real impact. Might be too late for that though.