How do you solve a problem like Discovery?

Request For Ideas: How would you move a retired orbiter across the US?

The White House's Office of Management and Budget is grappling with how to transport Space Shuttle Discovery from the Smithsonian Museum in Virginia to Space Center Houston. How would you do it?

Certain individuals have held a grudge for years over the omission of Houston, Texas, when the remaining Space Shuttles were handed out at the end of the program. Los Angeles got one, Florida got one, but Houston, where the missions were managed, was left off the list.

The grumbling has continued for more than a decade, and US president Donald Trump's recent spending bill, which is still being argued over, included $85 million to relocate a space vehicle that has flown a crew. This was widely interpreted as an order to move Space Shuttle Discovery from the Smithsonian's Udvar-Hazy Center in Virginia to Space Center Houston in Texas.

Without delving into the whys and whys nots, including the question of who even owns Discovery, there has been very little detail regarding how exactly the move could be accomplished. A trip by road and barge appears the most likely option. However, the two sides of the argument have come up with wildly differing costs for the exercise and the impact such a move would have on the orbiter.

The only way to resolve the discussion is surely via the sensible and knowledgeable Register readership, who doubtless have many thoughts on how this task could be accomplished. Our - admittedly not very serious - ideas are below.

Engage! Help plot Discovery's course to Houston

1. Balloons: Float Discovery to Houston like that house in the film Up – there's plenty of hot air in Washington after all...
2. Catapult: Construct a giant catapult and fire Discovery at Houston to show-off its prowess at being a glider one last time.
3. Send a life-sized cardboard cut-out of Discovery to Houston with the words "You Lost, Get Over It" written on one side.
4. Allow Elon Musk to launch a Starship from Virginia, strap Discovery to it, and let nature take its course.

Let us know in the comments if you'd go with 1, 2, 3, or 4. If you don't yet have an account, you can sign up here.

Or perhaps you have a better idea? Please share your wisdom. The story of the Space Shuttle torn between two houses seems set to run for a while yet. ®