Dumb question, but does anyone have an idea what exactly NASA has planned for its shuttles after they have outlived their usefulness and/or safe usage? I would assume an old shuttle would be used for training, but with the new generation of space vehicles in development, they’d be pretty useless in that respect…right?
Christopher Robin Hood - he steals from the rich and gives to the Pooh.
Well, there’s only 4 (5?) of them. I suspect one will wind up at the Smithsonian/National Air and Space Museum, one on display at Cape Canaveral, one at the Manned Spacecraft Center in Houston and the fourth somewhere else (my guess would be Marshall Space Flight Center in Huntsville).
“Sometimes I think the web is just a big plot to keep people like me away from normal society.” — Dilbert
The Enterprise is in a Smithsonian warehouse-hangar in Maryland, the last I heard (about 5 years ago). The hangar is open to the public by appointment. I suspect a similar fate awaits the shuttles.
By the way, Enterprise was never intended to go into space. It was a small-scale model built to test the aerodynamics of the design, and was never fitted with engines. It made a few test landings after being raised aloft on top of a jet airplane.
Work is the curse of the drinking classes. (Oscar Wilde)
Looking for a new lawn ornament? 
From NASA’s faq:
I guess whatever doesn’t go on display gets scrapped eventually. IIRC, the astronauts train in some pretty sophisticated flight simulators (maybe not unlike those used to keep airline pilots up to date?).
Ahhh…je vois, je vois. Thank you, fillet et al. Heh, just imagine…“We’ve switched Bob’s regular pink flamingoes with this newly retired space shuttle…”
Christopher Robin Hood - he steals from the rich and gives to the Pooh.
The Enterprise is at the Garber Facility, open to the public occasionally. Read more about it and a new museum set to open in 2003 at http://abcnews.go.com/sections/travel/DailyNews/avationmuseum981116.html
I cannot overemphasize how completely incredible the Garber facility really is. Many of the most important and unique air-and spacecraft to ever fly sit there waiting to go on display, and the restoration center is like crack to a rat for hobbyists. Take your kid there, or kidnap one if you don’t have any of your own.
Psst. Don’t tell anybody about it, though. They only take about a hundred visitors a week.
Dulles Airport had an open house last summer, with assorted displays and activities–I went because my brother was participating in an airplane pull–and one of the attractions was a tour of the NASM storage facility. It’s nowhere near museum-quality yet, but you could see the Enterprise, SR-71 and various other historic craft. It was VERY cool.
>>Being Chaotic Evil means never having to say your sorry…unless the other guy is bigger than you.<<
—The dragon observes
I don’t know about you guys, but I wouldn’t mind having a beater Space Shuttle to run back and forth to work with. It’ll be tough to fit it in between the lines, but at least you’d never forget where you parked.
Yeah but be sure to check the odometer. Talk about high mileage vehicles… Engines were recently rebuilt though so it may not be too bad.
Yeah, you’ve also got to watch out for its 2 external fuel tanks. Previous drivers have noted that the tanks tend to fall off about 28 statute miles after the vehicle starts on its journey (http://www.ksc.nasa.gov/shuttle/technology/sts-newsref/srb.html#srb).
Christopher Robin Hood - he steals from the rich and gives to the Pooh.
Doggone…lemme try that again…
http://www.ksc.nasa.gov/shuttle/technology/sts-newsref/srb.html#srb