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Space Shuttle Discovery Isn’t Leaving Northern Virginia — At Least for Now

Posted by Chris Colgan on January 6th, 2026

For months, there’s been a quiet but growing debate about whether one of Northern Virginia’s most iconic landmarks would be packed up and shipped halfway across the country. Now, according to Fox 5, that plan has hit a major roadblock.

The Space Shuttle Discovery — the crown jewel of the Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum at the Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Center — is staying right where it is, at least for now.

Why the move is stalled

Just a few months ago, there was renewed talk about relocating Discovery to Houston. Supporters in Texas argued they were unfairly passed over when NASA retired the shuttle fleet years ago. But in the past week, the tone changed.

NASA’s new administrator, Jared Isaacman, made it clear that moving Discovery is…

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