Coalition to Bring a Space Shuttle Orbiter Home

Our Goal: To return a Space Shuttle Orbiter home to California (specifically to the Antelope Valley) upon the retirement of the fleet.

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NASA plans to retire the Space Transportation System (Space Shuttle) Orbiter fleet and many aerospace venues hope to obtain one of the Orbiters for future display. Regardless of the actual time frame of the retirement, any attempt to bring a retired NASA Space Shuttle Orbiter to California (specifically to the Antelope Valley) will take a collective statewide effort, both politically and financially.

US Air Force Plant 42, Site 1 in Palmdale CA was dedicated to support America’s Space Shuttle program in 1972, following 20 years of use for the assembly and testing of many high performance aircraft. Subsequently, America’s Space Shuttle program with industry partners assembled and tested all six of the nation’s Space Shuttle Orbiter vehicles in Palmdale from the Enterprise in 1977 through the Endeavor in 1991.

 In addition to being built in Palmdale, all the remaining Orbiter vehicles returned to Palmdale for extensive maintenance and modifications. Atlantis rejoined the fleet after an extensive 20-month maintenance period at Palmdale, which included incorporating the ability to dock with the Russian Mir Space Station. Discovery completed similar modifications at the site and the Endeavour returned to Palmdale for the first time in 1996 to be outfitted with an external airlock assembly installed in the forward section of the payload bay. Much of the talent involved in the creation and maintenance of the Orbiters remains in the Antelope Valley, providing the knowledge and skill necessary to preserve and showcase such a treasure.