What To Do With An Old Space Shuttle? Need A Lawn Ornament?

Why not sell them to a country wanting to get into space like Japan or the EU?

Gut it, recyle its innards and put the shell on top of a couple of poles outside the Pilot Truck Stop out on I-70…..you know over by that pothole.

They should keep them flying until the new ships are ready. Why should we depend on the Russians to get into space?

“NASA is looking for ideas for its space shuttle fleet, which includes Endeavour, Atlantis and Discovery.”
1 – Tell the media that the world is going to end soon and we need volunteers to save the human race.
2 – Collect the best of the best volutnteers who are liberals at the Kennedy Space Center, if they are lawyers too then it’s an added plus.
3 – Fill up the Space shuttles with the volunteers.
4 – Send them on a one way trip to Betelgeuse.
5 – When they get too far to come back send them a thank you transmission for saving the planet and the human race.
It will be the truth afterall.

Upgrade. Give them a technological upgrade. They still work. NASA knows how to fix and operate them already. Keep them in service untill the next generation shuttle comes about. We’ve taken 10 steps forward with them, and now we’re going to take 10 steps back in adopting Apollo era vehicles. I agree, that they are the best at getting to the moon and back. But for shuttling crew and mission equipment to and from the ISS? I think the shuttles are best suited for that.

If they’re really that desperate … they can give one to me. :-)

I agree we should continue to fly them until our next generation spacecraft is ready. I also like the memorial idea. Although the shuttle legacy is regrettably scarred, it is still the largest and most historic vehicle ever to be flown in space. The shuttle and those who flew it and paid the ultimate price to fly it should be remembered with the highest possible honor.

“Why not put a locator beacon on one and send it into deep space. It would be the way a shuttle would want to be retired anyway, not rusting in some museum somewhere. Plus, it is a testament to man’s achievements on earth and if ever discovered by another intelligent species, would give them valuable clues to how we were conquering space right along with them.” – David
I like that David, it fits in well with my idea except with mine there would be multiple shuttles to find and there would be many more clues inside for another intelligent species to figure out what Homo Sapiens were/are.
: o )

I say that we do this….
1. Take one of the shuttles and keep it for storage.
2. Give one to a museum that helped NASA.
3. Take the last shuttle and convert it to a mini-shuttle that will dock with the International Space Station for a emergency trasport to earth.
Those are my ideas to do with it. Hope you aggree!

Donate them to Space Camp, to encourage the next generation of kids to find a joy in Astronautics and Science in general.

If we can keep B52′s flying for decades surely we can keep these in service for a few extra years.

These venerable work horses should definately be kept in the United States as upon their retirement, people will want a chance to see these beauties.
And my GOD, at MACH 25, these vehicles which come back to Earth essentially like an airplane travel much faster than the often quoted speeds for the mythical Aruora Hypersonic Spy Plane whose existence is the subject of occasional speculation Area 51 enthusiasts.
Regardless of whether or not any such myths have any validity, the venerable space shuttles should be put on display at three different locations within the United States. They have become a culteral icon and a symbol of what we Americans can do when we cooperate with each other.
The shuttles, as mueseam show pieces can stand tall and proud and be a source for further dreams and space craft yet to be built designed and conceived. I would like to see this vehicles put on display with electronic audiovideo displays and a with an adjacent fancy artistically embosed plack containing the phrase “What Dreams May Come!”

Further clarification: The shuttle would remain in orbit permanently.
Another idea, extra space for the ISS, as well as a better re-entry escape vehicle.

Retired USAF:
I love your idea! The Old Man’s work deeply influenced an entire generation, sending a gaggle of bright youngsters into engineering, and is as responsible as anything else for us getting to the Moon in the first place. Let’s mine his writing and see where else it can take us! NASA should spend some time looking at his figures for flights to Mars (and other spots) in the expanded “Expanded Universe”. All of the aeronautical engineers I have spoken with in Wichita swear that his figures are correct, and that all we need is the political will to make these journeys possbile TODAY!!
In the meantime, let’s definitely keep at least one shuttle in a “Bravo” status at the ISS, just in case a lifeboat is needed. One of the others should go to whatever museum is capable of keeping it in (restoring it to?) perfect condition so people can see just how fantastic these machines really are. A final one could be docked at the ISS, retrofitted, and used for transport from LEO to Moon Station One, in orbit over Luna City, and return. They’re a bit truck-like now but I’m sure Virgin Galactic could convert them to pleasant and functional taxis and turn a profit operating them.
RAH, RAH, R.A.H!!!
(with fond credit to Spider)

The shuttle was one of the biggest wastes of federal money that came at the expense of real space science. The ISS is the WORST waste of science money. To my knowledge, no useful science came out of it at all. Unmanned probes like Spirit/Opportunity and the Hubble are far better uses of taxpayer’s money.

WHY not put them up for bid—–OR put them in play ground for the kids—-or sink them in the ocean—-make one living quarters—–WHAT EVER just moveon—–