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Museum Of Flight Makes Big Pitch For Space Shuttle
Posted: 7:32 am PDT September 29, 2010
SEATTLE -- Space shuttle Atlantis is one of three retiring space shuttles that could soon make its home in Western Washington.
Aerospace enthusiasts are rallying support with Seattle's most iconic landmark to help make their pitch for one of the shuttles.
A huge shuttle flag is scheduled to be unfurled atop the Space Needle at 10 a.m.
The Discovery, Atlantis and Endeavour are soon to be grounded for good after a final Endeavour flight next February.
The Smithsonian already has Enterprise, which did not fly in space.
But Discovery has been promised to the Smithsonian, so the institution will probably give up Enterprise to make room.
Seattle has stiff competition, as 19 other sites around the country are also working to earn one of the three remaining shuttles, which are arguably the most prized aerospace artifacts on the planet.
Experts calculate that a shuttle could deliver up to a million extra visitors a year and $40 million a year to the state that lands it.
NASA will only consider sites that already have a building set aside to house the spacecraft. The Museum of Flight took a calculated risk and broke ground in June on a new $12 million gallery, even though no one knows who will win the intense competition.
Representatives from eight Washington tourist, convention, and visitor agencies will be on hand when they raise the flag Wednesday morning.
Posted: 7:32 am PDT September 29, 2010
SEATTLE -- Space shuttle Atlantis is one of three retiring space shuttles that could soon make its home in Western Washington.
Aerospace enthusiasts are rallying support with Seattle's most iconic landmark to help make their pitch for one of the shuttles.
A huge shuttle flag is scheduled to be unfurled atop the Space Needle at 10 a.m.
The Discovery, Atlantis and Endeavour are soon to be grounded for good after a final Endeavour flight next February.
The Smithsonian already has Enterprise, which did not fly in space.
But Discovery has been promised to the Smithsonian, so the institution will probably give up Enterprise to make room.
Seattle has stiff competition, as 19 other sites around the country are also working to earn one of the three remaining shuttles, which are arguably the most prized aerospace artifacts on the planet.
Experts calculate that a shuttle could deliver up to a million extra visitors a year and $40 million a year to the state that lands it.
NASA will only consider sites that already have a building set aside to house the spacecraft. The Museum of Flight took a calculated risk and broke ground in June on a new $12 million gallery, even though no one knows who will win the intense competition.
Representatives from eight Washington tourist, convention, and visitor agencies will be on hand when they raise the flag Wednesday morning.
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