In a bipartisan push to bring the retired Space Shuttle to the Museum of Flight in Seattle, Washington's U.S. Senators Patty Murray and Maria Cantwell, along with the state's entire congressional delegation, have sent a a letter to Charles F. Bolden, the Administrator of NASA, urging him to select the museum as the home for the retired NASA Space Shuttle Orbiter.
In the letter, the delegation says:
"The Museum of Flight is a source of pride to all of us in Washington state and we are confident that no other facility in the world can match the Museum’s ability to preserve and utilize an orbiter in a manner befitting its historical importance… We are confident that the Museum of Flight is an ideal home for a Space Shuttle Orbiter. These important national artifacts deserve to be well cared for in a historically-relevant environment, to have their history told accurately and in an engaging manner, and to inspire the next generation of aerospace workers. No facility is better suited than the Museum of Flight.”
Signing the letter, in addition to Murray and Cantwell, were U.S Representatives Jay Inslee (D-01), Rick Larsen (D-02), Jaime Herrera Beutler (R-03), Doc Hastings (R-04), Cathy McMorris Rodgers (R-05), Norm Dicks (D-06), Jim McDermott (D-07), Dave Reichert (R-08), and Adam Smith (D-09).
The letter concludes:
As you know, Washington state has played a critical role in the Space Shuttle program. That is why we are very excited to join the Museum of Flight this month in celebrating the 30 anniversary of the NASA Shuttle program. Your personal contributions to this important chapter in Washington’s history are not lost on us, and we thank you for your many years of public service.
As KPLU reported, April 12 is the deadline for NASA to decide which institution in the country will get the retired shuttle.
