New York's USS Intrepid will feature Shuttle Enterprise

[Soontir948]

NASA space shuttle prototype Enterprise coming to NYC's Intrepid Sea-Air-Space Museum

WASHINGTON - The Intrepid Sea-Air-Space Museum Tuesday snagged a NASA shuttle that's never been to space - but Houston, you have a problem.

NASA Administrator Charles Bolden revealed the sites to land one of the space agency's retiring orbiters in a much-anticipated announcement.

The Smithsonian Institute was awarded the Discovery, Kennedy Space Center in Florida will keep the Atlantis - and the California Science Center in Los Angeles will be home to the Endeavour.

Houston, home to NASA's iconic mission control at the Johnson Space Center, was shockingly shut out.

New York at least received a consolation prize, the prototype Enterprise shuttle.

The winning sites came as such a surprise that Ohio Sen. Sherrod Brown demanded a federal investigation.

He's peeved the National Air Force Museum in Dayton got nothing.

"Ohio is home to the Wright Brothers, to John Glenn and Neil Armstrong, and to the National Air Force Museum," he fumed.

"Locating the shuttle in Dayton would provide 60% of America's population with access to the shuttle, within a day's drive, and with no admission costs."

"The fight is not over," he added.

New York Sens. Charles Schumer and Kirsten Gillibrand, who lobbied Bolden relentlessly, were thrilled to come away with the Enterprise.

"Twenty major cities competed for these 4 highly sought after shuttles and the fact that the Intrepid was one of only 4 museums to get one is a huge victory for New York," Schumer said.

"The greatest city in the world will become home to one of the greatest achievements in the history of space exploration," Schumer added.

"NASA understands that if you want millions of tourists to get a firsthand glimpse of an icon in American scientific achievement, New York is the place to do it," he said.

The Enterprise shuttle was a test model that flew, but never orbited space. It was primarily used by astronauts for aerodynamic and landing tests.

Built in 1976, the Enterprise was initially set to be named the Constitution. Star Trek fans inundated then-President Gerald Ford, pleading for a change to the Enterprise.

Ford, who served aboard the USS Enterprise supply ship during World War II, never mentioned the Trekkie effort in overriding NASA officials.

Ford said only he was "partial to the name."

The Intrepid plans to house the shuttle in a glass enclosure - and hopes that the exhibit will bring in more than 1 million visitors.

NASA estimates the cost of preparing and delivering the shuttles at $42 million each - cash the Intrepid hopes to raise through fund-raising efforts.

The Intrepid was up against tough competition from 20 other cities and institutions.

I have been meaning to visit the Intrepid and this may just be the hook to finally get me there. Though I wonder if any other aircraft will be displaced to make room for it.