Friday 19 December 2008

Still Christmas Shopping?


As the 2010 retirement of the space shuttles Discovery, Atlantis, and
Endeavor draws near, NASA this week released proposed post retirement plans
for several of the space shuttles.

The initial release was designed to gauge
interest from potential buyers who would be willing and able to put the
retired ships on display.

Intended for schools, science museums, and other
organizations that might be interested in showcasing one of the three
remaining shuttles, the proposal contains what would be a prohibitive price
for most organizations.

NASA estimates that it will cost around $42 million
dollars to get the shuttle ready for it's final destination. It is
important to note that the $42 million will only get the shuttle to the
closest major airport, shipping fees beyond that will cost extra, most
likely a lot extra, as the space shuttle "will not be disassembled for
transportation or storage." One of the shuttles appears destined for the
Smithsonian's Air and Space Museum, but the other two are up for grabs. If
$42 million is too much for some, NASA is also offering some of the main
shuttle engines for the bargain prices of $400,000 and $800,000, and no,
this doesn't include shipping.

From The Scout Report, Copyright Internet Scout 1994-2008.
http://scout.wisc.edu/

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