NASA’s having a garage sale, and everything must go! Seriously, everything. The three-decade-old space shuttle program is winding down later this year, and NASA has decided to sell the three remaining shuttles to museums. The only problem is they’re not getting much interest.
So last Friday, NASA did what any motivated seller would: Slash the price. NASA is now selling shuttles Atlantis and Endeavour for $28.8 million — nearly a third less than their original price tag of $42 million. (Shuttle Discovery has been promised to the Smithsonian Air and Space Museum’s Udvar-Hazy center in Northern Virginia, which currently houses the Enterprise prototype that never flew into space.)
On the surface, it seems like a reasonable plan to unload massive pieces of hardware. But given that cocaine was recently found in Shuttle Discovery’s hangar, one has to wonder just how big a habit NASA has if it’s hocking its heirlooms.
Can’t scrape together nearly $29 million, but still want a taste of outer space? You can now get an actual engine from the shuttle for free, as long as you cover the costs of moving and housing the eight-foot-diameter, four-ton behemoths. The AP reported on Saturday that NASA tried to sell them for $400,000 to $800,000 apiece in December 2008, but got no offers and is now literally giving them away. This may be the last step before putting them up on Craigslist, alongside Conan O’Brien’s Tonight Show.
No Comments
I’ll take two if you’ll throw in the delivery of the engines and some fries.
Will this fit in my race car???
I want one. How nostalgic would this be to have this to remember the space shuttle. The most complicated of all space vehicles that played such a huge part in a great era of understanding space.
Would you consider ‘donating’ one to our local VFW Post 6885 in Canyon Country, CA (donating delivery too, of course). We have plenty of room, plenty of Patriotic American Veterans to care for it, and what a great piece of history to allow our community to view!
I’m glad I pay my taxes to such great organizations as NASA. If only they wouldn’t waste it.
Yeah, I will take, it…but cover the cost of shipping and throw in a milkshake…and make it snappy, damn it.
Why not have a hazmat team clean them out and ship them to Haiti and lay them lengthwise. At least they would provide shelter for people??
Pingback: Big NASA sale on used space shuttles - OC Deals : The Orange County Register